High frequency vents on your unit

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Which do you use where you work, Jets or oscillators? Just wondering... scrolling though posts, I see both mentioned.

We have Jets, there was a period of time about a year ago that we had to use oscillators because of a circuit problem that the jets were having (not in my hospital, but there was a recall so we got rid of them until the problem was corrected.) I was not a fan of the oscillators at all!

Just curious about other's experience. :)

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Specializes in ICU.

Only oscillators here

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

At my current hospital we only use oscillators. My former hospital used both. I'm not a fan of either, truth be told.

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Specializes in NICU.

We just use oscillators. I've heard that oscillators actively exhale the breaths put in and that jets let it happen passively...or maybe it was the other way around.

I love the oscillator. It's saved many of my kid's lives from pneumos...and one of their jugular veins from ECMO.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

Oscillators here. I love them...we extubate right to vapotherm from it! Our BPD rates have dropped drastically!

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

We use jets almost exclusively, though we did use oscillators for a time during that circuit recall. Jet vent is my favorite piece of equipment in the NICU.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I don't work NICU but I do know that our NICU (level IV) only uses oscillators.

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Specializes in NICU.

We use both, and they are not really used interchangeably in our unit. I prefer taking care of babies on the oscillator, but we have seen the jet do great things as well.

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Your "favorite" should be based upon the clinical situation and the indication for a particular ventilator.

The HFJV has strengths especially for PIE.

The HFOV has strengths for other situations.

The HFJV sometimes can deliver good gas exchange with a lower MAP than the HFOV.

A good NICU should have both to meet the needs of the patient population your unit sees. A ventilator should fit the patient's needs rather than trying to make the patient fit the ventilator.

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Specializes in NICU.

Both. Whatever the kiddo needs at that time.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

Each one is better for certain conditions. When we quit using them for several months (sounds like everyone did) we had several kids that we put on HVOF but they really needed HFJV. The nurses caring for them believed they wound up staying on the vent support longer due to the unavailability of the jets. Now with the resolution of the circuit issue our unit offers both.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

We use both. Mostly oscillator when advanced ventilation is needed. Really the only situation the jet is used where I work is for bad PIE and when we want to do single lung ventilation, also in the setting of PIE

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