Partial liquid ventilation influences pulmonary histopathology in an animal model of acute lung injury.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of partial liquid ventilation (PLV) and conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) in the pattern of distribution of lung injury in a rabbit model of acute lung injury.


METHODS
Animals (1.5 to 3.5 kg) were assigned to receive CMV (tidal volume of 10 mL/kg and a PEEP of 5 cm H2O) or PLV with 18 mL/kg of intratracheal perflubron (tidal volume of 10 mL/kg and a PEEP of 5 cm H2O). Lung injury was elicited by intravenous administration of Escherichia coliendotoxin. Uninjured animals ventilated as the CMV group served as controls. After 4 hours of mechanical ventilation, the lungs were removed and tissue injury was assessed by light microscopy using a scoring system.


RESULTS
Animals in the CMV group had higher lung injury scores in comparison to the PLV group (10+/-4.5 vs. 5+/-3.3, respectively, P < .05). The injury scores were similar for nondependent lung regions (CMV: 8+/-4.3, PLV: 6+/-2.9) but significantly different for the dependent regions (CMV: 12+/-4.6, PLV: 5+/-3.8, P< .05).


CONCLUSIONS
PLV is associated with significant attenuation of lung injury, in comparison to CMV. This effect is predominantly due to attenuation of injury in the dependent region of the lung.
Rotta
A T
AT
Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Buffalo and State University of New York at Buffalo, 14222, USA.
Gunnarsson
B
B
Hernan
L J
LJ
Fuhrman
B P
BP
Steinhorn
D M
DM
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004731:Endotoxins; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000379:methods*; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D011817:Rabbits; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013990:Tidal Volume
D004731:Endotoxins; D005466:Fluorocarbons