title: Prospective, randomized, controlled pilot study of partial liquid ventilation in adult acute respiratory distress syndrome.
abstract: We evaluated the safety and efficacy of partial liquid ventilation (PLV) with perflubron in adult patients with acute lung injury and the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in a multicenter, prospective, controlled, randomized exploratory clinical trial. Ninety adult patients with PaO2/FIO2 ratios > 60 and < 300 with ARDS for no more than 24 hours were randomized to receive PLV (n = 65) with administration of perflubron through an endotracheal tube sideport or conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV, n = 25) for a maximum of five days. Although a significant reduction in progression to ARDS was noted among patients with PLV, no significant differences in the number of days free from the ventilator at 28 days (CMV = 6.7 +/- 1.8, PLV = 6.3 +/- 1.0 days, p = 0.85), the incidence of mortality (CMV = 36%, PLV = 42%, p = 0.63), or any pulmonary-related parameter were observed. During a post hoc subgroup analysis, significantly more rapid discontinuation of mechanical ventilation (p = 0.045) and a trend toward an increase in the number of days free from the ventilator at 28 days (CMV = 3.2 +/- 1.9, PLV = 8.0 +/- 2.2 days, p = 0.06) were observed during PLV among those patients under 55 years of age with acute lung injury or ARDS. Episodes of hypoxia, respiratory acidosis, and bradycardia occurred more frequently in the PLV group, but these were transient and self-limited. Further evaluation of PLV is warranted to further define beneficial effects in well-defined groups of patients and also to gain additional information regarding safety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0245, USA. rhirschl@umich.edu
authors.forename: Ronald B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Hirschl
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Croce
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gore
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wiedemann
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zwischenberger
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Bartlett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D021061:Liquid Ventilation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015300:Ventilator Weaning
chemical_list: D005466:Fluorocarbons