LUNG COMPLIANCE, LUNG-VOLUME AND TRANSFER-FACTOR FOR CARBON-MONOXIDE IN ANESTHETIZED SHEEP - NORMAL VALUES AND REPRODUCIBILITY OF MEASUREMENTS

Measurements of quasistatic compliance (C(qst)), effective alveolar vo lume (V(A,eff)) and single-breath transfer factor for carbon monoxide (T(L,CO, 'sb')) were completed in 16 normal, anaesthetised, adult Texe l ewes. Regression equations were computed for these variables as a fu nction of bodyweight and the optimal equations selected. The 95 per ce nt prediction intervals for the equations were calculated such that no rmal lung function in similar sheep could be accurately predicted. The long term reproducibility of these measurements was assessed in nine sheep, measured at monthly intervals over a period of five months. Alt hough measurements made in individual sheep were often highly variable , the variation between repeated measurements on the separate days for the group was insignificant.