Correlation between alveolar recruitment/derecruitment and inflection points on the pressure-volume curve.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether individual alveolar recruitment/derecruitment (R/D) is correlated with the lower and upper inflections points on the inflation and deflation limb of the whole-lung pressure-volume (P-V) curve.


METHODS
Prospective experimental study in an animal research laboratory.


METHODS
Five anesthetized rats subjected to saline-lavage lung injury.


METHODS
Subpleural alveoli were filmed continuously using an in vivo microscope during the generation of a whole-lung P-V curve using the super syringe technique. Alveolar R/D was correlated to the calculated inflection points on both limbs of the P-V curve.


RESULTS
There was continual alveolar recruitment along the entire inflation limb in all animals. There was some correlation (R2=0.898) between the pressure below which microscopic derecruitment was observed and the upper inflection point on the deflation limb. No correlation was observed between this pressure and the lower inflection point on the inflation limb.


CONCLUSIONS
In this physiological experiment in lungs with pure surfactant deactivation we found that individual alveolar recruitment measured by direct visualization was not correlated with the lower inflection point on inflation whereas alveolar derecruitment was correlated with alveolar derecruitment on deflation. These data suggest that inflection points on the P-V curve do not always represent a change in alveolar number.
DiRocco
Joseph D
JD
Department of Surgery, Upstate Medical University, 750 E Adams Street, 13210, Syracuse, NY, USA. DiRoccoJ@upstate.edu.
Carney
David E
DE
Department of Surgery, Upstate Medical University, 750 E Adams Street, 13210, Syracuse, NY, USA.
Nieman
Gary F
GF
Department of Surgery, Upstate Medical University, 750 E Adams Street, 13210, Syracuse, NY, USA.
D000818:Animals; D008170:Lung Compliance / Q000502:physiology*; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley