Short-term administration of a high oxygen concentration is not injurious in an ex-vivo rabbit model of ventilator-induced lung injury.
BACKGROUND
Mechanical ventilation and administration of a high oxygen concentration are simultaneously used in the management of respiratory failure. We conducted this study to evaluate the effect of a high inspired oxygen concentration on ventilator-induced lung injury.


METHODS
Forty sets of isolated/perfused rabbit lungs were randomized for 60 min of pressure-control ventilation at a plateau inspiratory pressure of 25 or 15 cm H(2)O and positive end-expiratory pressure of 3 cm H(2)O while receiving 100% or 21% O(2). The temperature, pH, and partial pressure of CO(2) in the perfusate were maintained the same in all groups (n = 10 for each group). The outcome measures used to assess lung injury included: the change in weight gain and ultrafiltration coefficient, the frequency of vascular failure, the histological lesions and the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and malondialdehyde in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.


RESULTS
The two groups ventilated at the higher inspiratory pressure/tidal volume experienced greater weight gain and increases in the ultrafiltration coefficient, more frequently suffered vascular failure, and presented higher composite scores of histological damage than the two groups ventilated at the lower inspiratory pressure/tidal volume. Hyperoxia was not found to further increase any of the monitored markers of lung injury. No difference was noticed among the four experimental groups in the alveolar lavage fluid levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha or malondialdehyde.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that short-term administration of a high oxygen concentration is not a major determinant of ventilator-induced lung injury in this experimental model.
Kopterides
Petros
P
Second Critical Care Department, Attiko University Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
Kapetanakis
Theodoros
T
Siempos
Ilias I
II
Magkou
Christina
C
Pelekanou
Aimilia
A
Tsaganos
Thomas
T
Giamarellos-Bourboulis
Evangelos
E
Roussos
Charis
C
Armaganidis
Apostolos
A
D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D002196:Capillaries / Q000502:physiology; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000187:drug effects; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D010477:Perfusion; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000473:pathology; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014462:Ultrafiltration; D055397:Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury / Q000473:pathology*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D010100:Oxygen