The Potential of Heliox as a Therapy for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Adults and Children: A Descriptive Review

Background: In neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and acute RDS (ARDS) mechanical ventilation is often necessary to manage hypoxia, whilst protecting the lungs through lower volume ventilation and permissive hypercapnia. Mechanical ventilation can, however, induce or aggravate the lung injury caused by the respiratory distress. Helium, in a gas mixture with oxygen (heliox), has a low density and can reduce the flow in narrow airways and allow for lower driving pressures. Objectives: The aim of this study was to review preclinical and clinical studies of the use of heliox ventilation in acute lung injury associated with respiratory failure. Methods: A systematic search was executed in the PubMed and EMBASE databases, with search terms referring to ARDS or an acute lung injury condition associated with respiratory failure and the corresponding intervention. Results: A total of 576 papers were retrieved. After the majority had been excluded 20 papers remained, of which 6 articles Received: June 20, 2014 Accepted after revision: October 28, 2014 Published online: January 31, 2015 Charlotte J.P. Beurskens Laboratory of Experimental Intensive Care and Anaesthesiology (L.E.I.C.A.)/Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam Room M0-210 , Meibergdreef 9 , NL–1105 AZ Amsterdam (The Netherlands) E-Mail c.j.beurskens @ amc.nl © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel 0025–7931/15/0892–0166$39.50/0