PEEP ventilation does not cause humorally mediated cardiac output depression in pigs.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to see if humorally mediated negative inotropism contributes to the cardiac output (CO) depression seen during positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) ventilation.


METHODS
8 pairs of piglets were used and a combined blood circulation was established between the two animals in each pair. One animal was ventilated with a PEEP of 15 cmH20 (donor) and the other was ventilated without PEEP (recipient).


RESULTS
CO and stroke volume deteriorated in the donors by 32% and 44%, respectively, while no change was seen in the recipients.


CONCLUSIONS
As humorally mediated negative inotropism during PEEP ventilation has earlier been demonstrated in dogs, the results suggest that this mechanism might be species-dependent.
Berglund
J E
JE
Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Haldén
E
E
Jakobson
S
S
Svensson
J
J
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology*; D003427:Cross Circulation; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013552:Swine
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents