Effects of pattern of ventilation on pulmonary metabolism and mechanics

Effects of three patterns of mechanical ventilation on pulmonary mechanics, lung phospholipid and surface activity were studied in the normal closed-chest dog. The patterns were continuous mechanical ventilation with: 1) tidal volume (VT)=15 ml/kg; 2) VT=15 ml/kg with 10 cm H2O positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP); 3) VT=50 ml/kg. THE DOGS IN EACH GROUP WERE VENTILATED FOR 24 HOURS, WITH CAREFUL ATTENTION PAID TO MAINTENANCE OF NORMAL BLOOD GASES, FLUID BALANCE, AND CARDIAC OUTPUT. The animals were sacrificed and the lungs studied to determine pressure-volume curves, dry lung weight/wet lung weight ratios, phospholpid contents and surface activities. The results were compared with control values in acutely sacrificed unventilated dogs. No significant change from controls was found with any pattern of ventilation employed with the exception of the tendency for lungs ventilated with PEEP to retain fluid (decreased dry lung weight/wet lung weight ratio).