Mechanism by which a sustained inflation can worsen oxygenation in acute lung injury

Anesthesiology. 2004 Feb;100(2):323-30. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200402000-00022.

Abstract

Background: Sustained lung inflations (recruitment maneuvers [RMs]) are occasionally used during mechanical ventilation of patients with acute lung injury to restore aeration to atelectatic alveoli. However, RMs do not improve, and may even worsen, gas exchange in a fraction of these patients. In this study, the authors sought to determine the mechanism by which an RM can impair gas exchange in acute lung injury.

Methods: The authors selected a model of acute lung injury that was unlikely to exhibit sustained recruitment in response to a lung inflation. In five sheep, lung injury was induced by lavage with 0.2% polysorbate 80 in saline. Positron emission tomography and [13N]nitrogen were used to assess regional lung function in dependent, middle, and nondependent lung regions. Physiologic data and positron emission scans were collected before and 5 min after a sustained inflation (continuous positive airway pressure of 50 cm H2O for 30 s).

Results: All animals showed greater loss of aeration and higher perfusion and shunting blood flow in the dependent region. After the RM, Pao2 decreased in all animals by 35 +/- 22 mmHg (P < 0.05). This decrease in Pao2 was associated with redistribution of pulmonary blood flow from the middle, more aerated region to the dependent, less aerated region (P < 0.05) and with an increase in the fraction of pulmonary blood flow that was shunted in the dependent region (P < 0.05). Neither respiratory compliance nor aeration of the dependent region improved after the RM.

Conclusions: When a sustained inflation does not restore aeration to atelectatic regions, it can worsen oxygenation by increasing the fraction of pulmonary blood flow that is shunted in nonaerated regions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Pressure
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Pulmonary Gas Exchange*
  • Respiration, Artificial / adverse effects*
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / therapy*
  • Sheep
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed