PARTIAL LIQUID VENTILATION IMPROVES GAS-EXCHANGE AND INCREASES EELV IN ACUTE LUNG INJURY

Gas exchange is improved during partial liquid ventilation with perflu orocarbon in animal models of acute lung injury. The specific mechanis ms are unproved. We measured end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) by null -point body plethysmography in anesthetized sheep. Measurements of gas exchange and EELV were made before and after acute lung injury was in duced with intravenous oleic acid to decrease EELV and worsen gas exch ange. Measurements of gas exchange and EELV were again performed after partial liquid ventilation with 30 ml/kg of perfluorocarbon and compa red with gas-ventilated controls. Oxygenation was significantly improv ed during partial liquid ventilation, and EELV (composite of gas and l iquid) was significantly increased, compared with preliquid ventilatio n values and gas-ventilated controls. We conclude that partial liquid ventilation may directly recruit consolidated alveoli in the lung-inju red sheep and that this may be one mechanism whereby gas exchange is i mproved.