Comparison of natural surfactant and brief liquid ventilation rescue treatment in very immature lambs. Clinical and physiological correlates.
We studied the effect of rescue therapy with modified porcine surfactant (Curosurf) or brief perfluorocarbon liquid ventilation on pulmonary gas exchange, mechanics and structure in very immature lambs. Both rescue strategies produced an improvement in arterial oxygenation and were able to support CO2 elimination. Histology showed unevenly inflated lungs in all but tidal-liquid-ventilated lambs. We speculate that due to immature lung architecture and relatively high permeability, previous exposure to gas ventilation impeded full effectiveness of both rescue modalities, perhaps prophylactic surfactant or liquid ventilation could be a better alternative.
Valls-i-Soler
A
A
Department of Physiology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa., USA.
Wolfson
M R
MR
Kechner
N
N
Foust
R
R
Shaffer
T H
TH
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001688:Biological Products; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D005865:Gestational Age; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010743:Phospholipids; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D012756:Sheep
D001688:Biological Products; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D010743:Phospholipids; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; C068291:poractant alfa