Supplemental systemic oxygen support using an intestinal intraluminal membrane oxygenator

An intraluminal membrane oxygenator (IMO) prototype was surgically inserted in the ileum and evaluated as a method of supporting systemic oxygenation in an acutely hypoxemic porcine model. Animals were assigned randomly to the test (n = 12) or the control (n = 8) groups, which underwent identical protocols with the exception of the O2 flow in the IMO device, which was shut off in the control group. In each case, hypoxia was induced by a reduction in the inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2) to 0.14. A highly significant improvement (p < 0.005) in arterial and venous O2 content and lower arteriovenous O2 difference (p < 0.05), cardiac output, and hemoglobin (p < 0.005) were found in the test group during hypoxia. The results show that it is possible to meet a physiologically significant portion of the body's O2 demands via the intestine during respiratory hypoxia and suggests that similar devices may be of significant potential value as a supplemental oxygenation device in cases of respiratory distress.