USE OF OXYGENT(TM), A PERFLUOROCHEMICAL-BASED OXYGEN CARRIER, AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INTRAOPERATIVE BLOOD-TRANSFUSION

Oxygent (TM) is a stable concentrated perfluorochemical (PFC) emulsion being developed for use as a temporary oxygen carrier. In this applic ation, PFC emulsions can be used to augment oxygen delivery during acu te blood loss and thereby provide a margin of safety during hemodiluti on and surgical anemia. PFCs simply dissolve oxygen in direct proporti on to its partial pressure. The oxygen transported by a PFC emulsion i s present in the plasma compartment and is therefore easily extracted and consumed by the tissues. Preclinical and clinical studies have dem onstrated that a relatively low dose (1.35 g PFC/kg) of Oxygent can su pport oxygen delivery despite ongoing blood loss. Clinical safety stud ies in 57 healthy, conscious volunteers and in 30 anesthetized surgica l patients have been completed. In these studies, there were no hemody namic changes or vasoconstriction and cardiac output increased normall y in response to hemodilution. Two transient side effects were observe d, but only in the high dose (1.8 g PFC/kg) group. a 1-1.5 degrees C i ncrease in body temperature (at 4-6 hours), and a moderate decrease In platelet count (mean nadir similar to 130,000/mu L by 2-3 days) witho ut any,bleeding complications. Oxygent is presently being evaluated as an alternative to allogeneic blood transfusion in patients undergoing medium- to high-blood-loss surgical procedures.