title: Transintestinal oxygenation with perfluorocarbon: investigation of perfusion rate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Perfluorocarbons are structurally similar to hydrocarbons but with the hydrogen atoms replaced by fluorine. In general, perfluorocarbons have an excellent oxygen and carbon dioxide carrying capacity. We studied the suitability of oxygenated perfluorocarbon as an agent for transintestinal oxygenation and measured its perfusion rates under different conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used FC-77 (Sumitomo 3M, Tokyo, Japan) perfluorocarbon and a rat hypoventilation model (room air, 20 breaths/min, a tidal volume of 10 ml/kg). Oxygenated FC-77 was perfused through the small intestine for 4 hours. Rats were allocated to 3 experimental groups according to the perfusion rate and a control group: Group 1 (n=6), 10 ml/min; Group 2 (n=6), 2.5 ml/min; Group 3 (n=6), 0.75 ml/min; Group 4 (n=6) served as a control (hypoventilation only). Arterial blood samples were drawn every 30 minutes. Standard blood gas analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After four hours of perfusion, the PaO2 levels in Groups 1 to 3 were significantly better than Group 4 (p<0.01, Group 1: 141.7 +/- 18.0 mmHg, Group 2: 145.2 +/- 25.1 mmHg, Group 3: 120.5 +/- 21.2 mmHg, Group 4: 67.4 +/- 7.2 mmHg). PaCO2 levels in Groups 1 and 2 were significantly better than Groups 3 and 4 (p<0.01, Group 1: 42.6 +/- 7.2 mmHg, Group 2: 52.1 +/- 7.7 mmHg, Group 3: 78.2 +/- 22.8 mmHg, Group 4: 75.3 +/- 10.3 mmHg).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present settings, 8 ml/kg/min was adequate for oxygenation and CO2 clearance. This approach promises to become another modality for respiratory assistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer and Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Okayama University, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kotani
authors.forename: Itaru
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nagahiro
authors.forename: Hidehiro
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Date
authors.forename: Nobuyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shimizu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D005466:Fluorocarbons; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen