A stable model of respiratory distress by small injections of oleic acid in pigs.
OBJECTIVE
Development of a stable model of respiratory distress in pigs with oleic acid, fulfilling clinical criteria of the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).


METHODS
Eight pigs (9.1 +/- 0.7 kg) were anesthetized with pentobarbital, paralyzed with tubocurarine and mechanically ventilated with an FIO2 of 0.6, an I:E ratio of 2:3 and a PEEP of 0.2 kPa. Oleic acid (dissolved 1:1 in 96% alcohol) was administered in a series of multiple injections of 0.1 ml until PaO2 was lower than 8 kPa.


RESULTS
Careful titration of the oleic acid injections on guidance of the PaO2 established a reproducible respiratory distress (PaO2 = 7.3 +/- 0.8 kPa), in which gas exchange and hemodynamic variables were stable for at least 4 h. The number of oleic acid injections (22 +/- 11, mean and SD) varied between the animals.


CONCLUSIONS
With the use of multiple injections of oleic acid, a stable model of early respiratory distress in pigs can be achieved, in spite of individual differences in sensitivity. Such a stable model allows for a diversity of studies on early respiratory distress.
Grotjohan
H P
HP
Department of Puimonary Diseases, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
van der Heijde
R M
RM
Jansen
J R
JR
Wagenvoort
C A
CA
Versprille
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D003911:Dextrans; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D007267:Injections; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D019301:Oleic Acid; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013552:Swine
D003911:Dextrans; D009829:Oleic Acids; D019301:Oleic Acid