ARTIFICIAL SURFACTANT ADMINISTRATION IN AN ANIMAL-MODEL OF HYDROCARBON INDUCED PULMONARY TOXICITY

Background: The treatment of severe hydrocarbon (HC) pulmonary aspirat ion is limited to supportive care. Because the toxicity of HC may be r elated to surfactant (SFT) depletion, SFT therapy is a possible antido te for HC pneumonitis. purpose of this study is to assess the effects of SFT administration in an animal model of severe HC induced pulmonar y toxicity. Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled design utilizing New Zealand white rabbits was employed. After anesthetic induction wi th xylazine (2 mg/kg IM) and ketamine (50 mg/kg IM), an IV line, an ar terial line, and a tracheostomy (3.0 cuffed ETT) were performed. The E XP animals received HC (mineral seal oil, 0.25 cc/kg ETT) followed in 5 minutes by SFT (EXSOURF, 5 cc/kg ETT), and CTL animals received HC a nd then placebo (sterile water, 5 cc/kg ETT). SEP, HR, pH, pO2, and pC O2 were measured at 0, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, and 90 mins post HC administ ration. Static pulmonary compliance (SPC) was measured at 90 mins afte r paralysis was induced with pancuronium (0.1 mg/kg IV). All analyses compared EXP and CTL groups using repeated measures ANOVA. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: 14 animals were randomized. 4 animals died for technical reasons prior to the initiation of the p rotocol and were excluded from analysis leaving 5 animals in each grou p. All other animals survived to completion of the study. No statistic al differences were found in SEP, HR, pH, pO2 and pCO2. The SPC curve was statistically worse for the EXP group as opposed to the CTL group. Conclusion: Bolus administration of SFT for severe HC induced pulmona ry toxicity in this animal model was found to be detrimental.