title: Percutaneous cardiopulmonary support for catastrophic pulmonary fat embolism in pigs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) for fatal fat embolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve piglets were randomly assigned into either a conventional treatment group (CT group, n = 6) or a PCPS group (n = 6) after receiving 0.3 mL/kg of fat intravenously. The piglets in the CT group received conventional treatments including mechanical ventilation with 100% oxygen, steroid, fluids, anticoagulant, and positive inotropic agents. In addition to conventional treatments, the piglets in the PCPS group received PCPS after fat injection. Mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, pressure of end tidal carbon dioxide, oxygen saturation, partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood, arterial carbon dioxide pressure or tension, plasmic lactic acid, and free fatty acid were monitored. The survival rate and the consumption of positive inotropic agents were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survival rate of piglets 10 hours after fat injection was much higher in the PCPS group than that in the CT group (100% vs. 0%, p < 0.01). The dosages of positive inotropic agents in the PCPS group were much lower than that in the CT group (p < 0.01). Oxygen saturation, partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood, and arterial carbon dioxide pressure or tension were significantly improved in the PCPS group in the first 3 hours after fat injection when compared with those in the CT group (p < 0.05 or 0.01), but there were no statistical differences between the two groups in mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, free fatty acid, and lactic acid at the period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCPS can increase the survival rate of piglets with fatal fat embolism by providing effective cardiopulmonary support. This study suggests that PCPS might be an effective treatment for a patient with severe fat embolism if conventional treatments have not worked.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Jiang
authors: Da-Qiang
authors: DQ
authors: Zhao
authors: Ai-Zhong
authors: AZ
authors: Wang
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Xue
authors: Shaofei
authors: S
authors: Cheng
authors: Cheng
authors: C
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004620:Embolism, Fat / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013552:Swine; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications