When intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV) and/or high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) fails to improve respiratory failure, the imposition of HFOV during IMV has been shown to facilitate alveolar recruitment and improve oxygenation. This mode of ventilation has been referred to as combined oscillatory and mandatory ventilation (COMV) or high frequency oscillation-intermittent venti...

ASPIRIN poisoning is responsible for over 200 deaths per annum in England and Wales. Forced alkaline diuresis is advocated to hasten renal elimination of the drug when plasma salicylate levels exceed 500 mg/l, whilst charcoal haemoperfusion is the treatment of choice when plasma salicylate levels exceed 900 mg/kg.' This severity of poisoning causes gross respiratory, metabolic and coagulation d...