title: A porcine model for initial surge mechanical ventilator assessment and evaluation of two limited-function ventilators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To adapt an animal model of acute lung injury for use as a standard protocol for a screening initial evaluation of limited function, or "surge," ventilators for use in mass casualty scenarios.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, experimental animal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve adult pigs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve spontaneously breathing pigs (six in each group) were subjected to acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome via pulmonary artery infusion of oleic acid. After development of respiratory failure, animals were mechanically ventilated with a limited-function ventilator (simplified automatic ventilator [SAVe] I or II; Automedx, Germantown, MD) for 1 hr or until the ventilator could not support the animal. The limited-function ventilator was then exchanged for a full-function ventilator (Servo 900C; Siemens-Elema, Solna, Sweden).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reliable and reproducible levels of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome were induced. The SAVe I was unable to adequately oxygenate five animals with Pao2 (52.0±11.1 torr) compared to the Servo (106.0±25.6 torr; p=.002). The SAVe II was able to oxygenate and ventilate all six animals for 1 hr with no difference in Pao2 (141.8±169.3 torr) compared to the Servo (158.3±167.7 torr).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We describe a novel in vivo model of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome that can be used to initially screen limited-function ventilators considered for mass respiratory failure stockpiles and that is intended to be combined with additional studies to definitively assess appropriateness for mass respiratory failure. Specifically, during this study we demonstrate that the SAVe I ventilator is unable to provide sufficient gas exchange, whereas the SAVe II, with several more functions, was able to support the same level of hypoxemic respiratory failure secondary to acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome for 1 hr.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. robertpdickson@gmail.com
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dickson
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Hotchkin
authors.forename: Wayne J E
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lamm
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hinkson
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Pierson
authors.forename: Robb W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Glenny
authors.forename: Lewis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rubinson
mesh_terms: D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000295:instrumentation; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*