Changes of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline after mechanical ventilation in patients with acute cerebral injury.
OBJECTIVE
To detect the levels of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline (DPPC) in the sputum of the patients with acute cerebral injury without primary pulmonary injury after mechanical ventilation treatment.


METHODS
DPPC levels in sputum of 35 patients with acute cerebral injury but without pulmonary injury were detected with high performance liquid chromatography at the beginning of ventilation and 16-20 days, 21-40 days, and 41-60 days after ventilation, respectively.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference of the DPPC levels between 16-20 days after ventilation (3.36+/-0.49) and at the beginning of ventilation (3.37+/-0.58) (P>0.05). The mean levels of DPPC decreased significantly at 21-40 days (2.87 mg/ml+/-0.26 mg/ml, P<0.05) and 41-60 days (1.93 mg/ml+/-0.21 mg/ml, P<0.01) after ventilation compared with that at the beginning of ventilation. At the same period, the peak inspiratory pressure and the mean pressure of airway increased significantly, whereas the static compliance and the partial pressure of oxygen in artery decreased significantly. Among the 25 patients who received ventilation for more than 20 days, 8 (32%) had slightly-decreased partial pressure of oxygen in artery compared with that at the beginning of ventilation.


CONCLUSIONS
Mechanical ventilation can decrease the DPPC levels, decrease the lung compliance and increase the airway pressure, even impair the oxygenation function in patients with acute cerebral injury. Abnormal DPPC is one of the major causes of ventilator-associated lung injury.
Huang
Wei-dong
WD
Department of Emergency, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, China.
Zhou
Dao-yang
DY
Yang
Yun-mei
YM
Xu
Zhe-rong
ZR
Shen
Mei-ya
MY
Su
Wei
W
D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013183:Sputum / Q000378:metabolism*
D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine