PARTIAL LIQUID VENTILATION PROVIDES EFFECTIVE GAS-EXCHANGE IN A LARGEANIMAL-MODEL

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to show the ability of partial liquid ventilation (PLV) to sustain gas exchange in normal large (50 t o 70 kg) adult animals. Methods: Ten adult sheep (53.7 +/- 2.8 kg) wer e anesthetized and mechanically ventilated. Sequential dosing of perfl ubron (LiquiVent, Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp, San Diego, CA) was per formed to cumulative doses of 10 mL/kg, 20 mL/kg, 40 mL/kg, and 60 mL/ kg. Physiological data were assessed at baseline and after each dose. Five animals were rotated through the left decubitus, right decubitus, supine, and prone positions while five animals remained prone through out the experiment. Results: PaO2 and PaCO2 did not change significant ly from baseline during administration of perflubron except for the Pa O2 in rotated animals when supine (rotated-supine PaO2: baseline = 519 +/- 64 mm Hg; 60 mL/kg = 380 +/- 109 mm Hg, P = .0131). In both group s, static lung compliance (CT) decreased steadily with each successive perflubron instillation (nonrotated CT: baseline = 1.55 +/- 0.22 mL/c m H2O/kg; 60 mL/kg = 0.52 +/- 0.10 ml/cmH(2)O/kg, P = .0003). Conclusi ons: These data show that during PLV in this normal animal model, effe ctive gas exchange is sustained and C-T decreases with increasing perf lubron dose. (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company