Efficacy of perfluorocarbon partial liquid ventilation in a large animal model of acute respiratory failure.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the efficacy of partial perfluorocarbon liquid ventilation in large animal model of acute respiratory failure.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, controlled trial.


METHODS
Animal laboratory at a university medical center.


METHODS
Ten adult sheep, weighing 53.0 +/- 2.8 kg.


METHODS
After assessment of baseline physiologic data, acute respiratory failure was induced by right atrial injection of oleic acid (0.2 mL/kg). Five animals (partial liquid ventilation group) underwent sequential intratracheal dosing of 10 mL/kg of perflubron at 30-min intervals to the following cumulative doses: 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mL/kg. The remaining five animals were gas ventilated (control group). Physiologic data were assessed at 30-min intervals in both groups for the 2.5-hr experimental period or until death.


RESULTS
When compared with control animals, intratracheal perfluorocarbon instillation resulted in significant improvements in arterial oxygen saturation (arterial oxygen saturation after 50 mL/kg: partial liquid ventilation, 96 +/- 3%; control, 55 +/- 8%; p = .001) and physiologic shunt (physiologic shunt after 50 mL/kg dose: partial liquid ventilation, 2 +/- 8%; control, 64 +/- 5%; p = .004). Oxygen delivery improved with perfluorocarbon instillation, but this improvement was not significant. No significant difference in pulmonary compliance was observed during partial liquid ventilation when compared with controls (pulmonary compliance: partial liquid ventilation, 0.43 +/- 0.04 mL/ cm H2O/kg; control, 0.53 +/- 0.03 mL/cm H2O/kg; p = .102).


CONCLUSIONS
Partial liquid ventilation with perflubron provides effective improvement in gas exchange in an adult animal model of respiratory failure.
Overbeck
M C
MC
Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-0245, USA.
Pranikoff
T
T
Yadao
C M
CM
Hirschl
R B
RB
D000208:Acute Disease; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012756:Sheep
D005466:Fluorocarbons