Background: Mechanical ventilation is a frequently applied therapy in critically ill children and can be lifesaving in many cases. Clinical use of this technique has well documented benefits, but can be associated with different complications and adverse physiologic effects.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the complications and clinical outcome of mechanical ventilation in Serbian pediatric patients.
Material and methods: The study encompassed 42 children with respiratory insufficiency that underwent mechanical ventilation during hospitalization over a period of 12 consecutive months. The influence of clinical and mechanical parameters on the occurrence of complications and clinical outcome were analyzed.
Results: The patients were ventilated for a total of 432 days and a total of 61 complications were observed in 42 patients (97 complications per 1000 ventilation days). The most common complications associated with mechanical ventilation in Serbian pediatric patients with respiratory insufficiency were cardiovascular insufficiency (52.4%) and multiple organ failure (35.7%). High values of applied PIP (> 26 cm H 2 O), PEEP (> 6 cm H 2 O) and Tv (> 6 mL/kg) were associated with the occurrence of complications and negative clinical outcome.
Conclusions: Complications of mechanical ventilation in the pediatric population occur frequently, but lower volumes/pressures of ventilation contribute to a decrease in incidence. Further studies are needed to examine associated risk factors and strategies to reduce the occurrence of complications and improve clinical outcome.