2005 SAGES Abstracts

ABSTRACTS Thursday, April 14, 2005
INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary failure results in many deaths
worldwide. Diseases such as ARDS, SARS, and pneumonia,
are reversible if the victim can be kept alive and adequately
oxygenated during the most severe stage while the underlying
problem is treated. Current ventilatory techniques are often
not adequate to accomplish this. Perfluorocarbons (PFC) are
inert liquids with an extraordinary capacity to dissolve gasses
and may be a key to patient survival under these circumstances.
The purpose of this study was to determine if perfusing
the peritoneal cavity or stomach with oxygenated PFC
could augment systemic oxygen (O2) levels. If successful, this
technique could be implemented at the bedside with endoscopic
techniques.
METHODS: 15 pigs weighing 45 to 55 kg were intubated and
rendered hypoxic by ventilating them with a subatmospheric
blend of O2 and nitrogen. Inflow and outflow catheters were
placed in the peritoneal cavity and connected to a perfusion
circuit including a pump, heater and oxygenator. 8 animals
underwent peritoneal perfusion with oxygenated PFC and 7
controls with oxygenated saline. 7 more animals were perfused
with catheters inside the excluded stomach. ABG?s were
collected at baseline and every 30 minutes for the duration of
perfusion. A student?s t-test was used to compare the PaO2 at
baseline to the PaO2 achieved during perfusion with oxygenated
saline and oxygenated PFC.
RESULTS: In the peritoneal perfusion group, an FiO2 of 14%
resulted in a baseline PaO2 of 39.4±5.0, increasing to 55.3±7.6
mmHg with oxygenated PFC perfusion (p