Time-dependency of improvements in arterial oxygenation during partial liquid ventilation in experimental acute respiratory distress syndrome.
BACKGROUND
The mechanisms by which partial liquid ventilation (PLV) can improve gas exchange in acute lung injury are still unclear. Therefore, we examined the time- and dose-dependency of the improvements in arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) due to PLV in eight pigs with experimental lung injury, in order to discriminate increases due to oxygen dissolved in perfluorocarbon before its intrapulmonary instillation from a persistent diffusion of the respiratory gas through the liquid column.


RESULTS
Application of four sequential doses of perfluorocarbon resulted in a dose-dependent increase in PaO2. Comparison of measurements 5 and 30 min after instillation of each dose revealed a time-dependent decrease in PaO2 for doses that approximated the functional residual capacity of the animals.


CONCLUSIONS
Although oxygen dissolved in perfluorocarbon at the onset of PLV can cause a short-term improvement in arterial oxygenation, diffusion of oxygen through the liquid may not be sufficient to maintain the initially observed increase in PaO2.
Max
M
M
Medizinische Einrichtungen der Rheinisch-Westfälischen Technischen Hochschule Aachen, Aachen, Germany. Martin.Max2@post.rwth-aachen.de
Kuhlen
R
R
Dembinski
R
R
Rossaint
R
R
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D021061:Liquid Ventilation / Q000379:methods*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D012016:Reference Values; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005466:Fluorocarbons; D010100:Oxygen