39 newborns with respiratory distress syndrome treated by HFOV were evaluated in a retrospective study. We sought to determine the relationship between total duration of ventilation and early institution of HFOV, relationship of oxygenation indexes before HFOV and total duration of ventilation and the occurrence of early and late complications (barotrauma or dependence on FiO2 > 0.3 at 28 th day of life, respectively). We did not observe statistically significant relationship in the followed parameters. Even though input oxygenation indexes were close to ECMO criteria, HFOV proved to be successful in all cases.

        Key words: HFOV O respiratory distress syndrome O newborn