EXPERIMENTAL FLAIL CHEST - VENTILATORY FUNCTION WITH FIXATION OF FLAIL SEGMENT IN INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL POSITION

The effect on ventilatory function of fixation of a flail segment in i nternal (FIP) and external (FEP) position and oxygen administration wa s studied in an experimental flail chest with pleural indemnity, Varia tions of tidal volume (TV), respiratory rate (RR), minute volume (MV), and arterial blood gases are reported, These parameters were measured in nine dogs in control and flail conditions (FC). The effect of FIP, FEP, and oxygen administration were studied. Results: Significant dif ferences were found: TV decreased from control values to FC and from F C to FIP, but increased from FC to FEP, RR values increased from contr ol to FC and from FC to FIP, but decreased from FC to FEP, MV values d ecreased from FC to FEP, TV, RR, and MV were not changed under oxygen administration, Hypoxemia or hypercapnia mere not observed, It was con cluded that FIP is deleterious for respiratory mechanics, whereas FEP improves ventilatory parameters.