Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Oleic Acid-Injection in Pigs As a Model for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Published on: October 26, 2018
Regional pulmonary blood flow during partial liquid ventilation in normal and acute oleic acid-induced lung-injured
M A Enrione1, M C Papo, C L Leach
1Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, University of California at Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, USA.
Objective:
To determine the spatial distribution of pulmonary blood flow in three groups of piglets: partial liquid ventilation in normal piglets, partial liquid ventilation during acute lung injury, and conventional gas ventilation during acute lung injury.
Design:
Prospective randomized study.
Setting:
A university medical school laboratory approved for animal research.
Subjects:
Neonatal piglets.
Interventions:
Regional pulmonary blood flow was studied in 21 piglets in the supine position randomized to three different groups: a normal group that received partial liquid ventilation (Normal-PLV) and two acute lung injury groups that received an oleic acid-induced lung injury: partial liquid ventilation during acute lung injury (OA-PLV) and conventional gas ventilation during acute lung injury (OA-Control). Acute lung injury was induced by infusing oleic acid (0.15 mL/kg iv) over 30 mins. Partial liquid ventilation was instituted with perflubron (LiquiVent, 30 mL/kg) after 30 mins in the Normal-PLV and OA-PLV groups.
Measurements And Main Results:
Arterial and venous blood gases, hemodynamics, and pulmonary mechanics were measured every 15 mins throughout the hour-long study. Pulmonary blood flow was assessed by fluorescent microsphere technique at baseline and after 30, 45, and 60 mins. In the Normal-PLV piglets, pulmonary blood flow decreased from baseline (before injury or partial liquid ventilation) in the most dependent areas of the lung (F ratio = 3.227; p < .001). In the OA-PLV piglets, pulmonary blood flow was preserved over time throughout the lung (F ratio = 1.079; p = .38). In the OA-Control piglets, pulmonary blood flow decreased in the most dependent areas of the lung and increased from baseline in less dependent slices over time (F ratio = 2.48; p = .003).
Conclusions:
The spatial distribution of regional pulmonary blood flow is preserved during partial liquid ventilation compared with gas ventilation in oleic acid-induced lung injury.
