Comparison of oxygenated perfluorocarbon and humidified oxygen for rewarming hypothermic miniswine

This study examines a method to rapidly rewarm the core using total liquid ventilation with warmed, oxygenated perfluorocarbon. Yucatan miniswine were splenectomized and surgically implanted with telemetry devices to transmit electrocardiographic response, arterial pressure, and core temperature. Hypothermia (core temperature = 25.9 +/- 1.3 degrees C) was induced by placing cold-water circulating blankets over the animals. Control animals (N = 7) were rewarmed using warm (37.8 degrees C), humidified oxygen. Experimental animals (N = 6) were rewarmed with oxygenated perfluorocarbon liquid (37.3 degrees C). The time to rewarm was significantly shorter in experimental animals (1.98 +/- 0.5 vs. 8.61 +/- 1.6 hours, p < 0.0001), with almost no afterdrop in the experimental group. Lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly increased in the control animals compared with the experimental animals. All animals that survived being chilled to 25 degrees C survived rewarming. This method may provide a means of more rapidly rewarming profoundly hypothermic victims while reducing the risks associated with current methods.