Perfluorocarbon associated gas exchange (PAGE): gas ventilation of the perfluorocarbon filled lung.
BACKGROUND
Throughout most of the second half of this century, progress in respiratory life support was dominated by modernization of the mechanical ventilator. We have now entered an era in which the fundamental physiology of lung function can be manipulated to improve lung performance in hope of reducing morbidity and mortality and thereby decreasing the cost of intensive care.


RESULTS
Despite its almost alien technology, perfluorocarbon tidal liquid breathing is an effective means to support respiration in normal and surfactant deficient lungs. A second, technique, perfluorocarbon associated gas exchange (PAGE), has recently been shown effective in normal lungs and in several animal models of lung disease. Both techniques appear to improve pulmonary function when pulmonary surface tension is elevated.


CONCLUSIONS
PAGE improves lung function and poses opportunities to reduce pulmonary morbidity and diminish the cost of intensive care.
Fuhrman
B P
BP
State University of New York at Buffalo.
Hernan
L J
LJ
Holm
B A
BA
Leach
C L
CL
Papo
M C
MC
Steinhorn
D M
DM
D000818:Animals; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000187:drug effects*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D013990:Tidal Volume
D005466:Fluorocarbons