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Murine model of oropharyngeal gastric fluid aspiration-A new assessment method for intrapulmonary liquid distribution
Dylan Beinart1, Sade M B Finn1, Uwe Scheuermann1
1a Department of Surgery , Duke University Medical Center , Durham , North Carolina , USA.
Aim Of The Study:
The aim of this study was to investigate a new method for visualization and quantification of intrapulmonary liquid distribution after oropharyngeal gastric fluid aspiration in mice.
Material And Methods:
Eleven mice received oropharyngeal aspiration with a gastric fluid, India ink, and saline solution. Digital imaging and pixel calculation were used to analyze intrapulmonary fluid distribution selectively.
Results:
Digital pixel analysis and orophanryngeal aspiration are both safe techniques in mice and deliver reproducible/valid results. Analysis revealed an average aspirate distribution of 86.8% of the total lung area. The proportional amount of the left lung was significantly greater than that of the right lung (P = 0.023). The lobe with the lowest mean distribution was the right lower lobe (79.2% ± 4.4%).
Conclusion:
Digital pixel calculation is a reliable method for quantitative, macroscopic evaluation of fluid distribution in the lung. This method is a useful tool for training purposes and it can be used to ensure interinvestigator reproducibility.
