Effect of fluosol-DA infusion on pulmonary vascular permeability in the dog lung

Oxygen-carrying perfluorocarbon (PFC) emulsions show clinical promise as blood supplements or substitutes. However, some evidence suggests that PFC emulsions may accumulate in the lungs to disrupt pulmonary function. This study was conducted to determine whether the infusion of a PFC emulsion (Fluosol-DA) would alter microvascular permeability in the isolated canine right lower lung lobe (RLL). RLL's, perfused at constant pressure with autogenous blood, were divided into three groups: Group I (n = 6), the control group, was infused with bovine serum albumin (BSA) until the BSA solution equaled 10% of the total blood volume in the perfusion system; Group II (n = 6) was infused with Fluosol-DA until the emulsion comprised 10% of the final blood volume; and Group III (n = 6) was infused with Fluosol-DA until it comprised 20% of the final blood volume. The pulmonary filtration coefficient (Kf), an index of microvascular permeability, was obtained in each group approximately 1 hour after infusion. The Kf values for the control, 10% Fluosol, and 20% Fluosol groups were 0.070 +/- 0.018, 0.127 +/- 0.024, and 0.115 +/- 0.022 ml X min-1 X mm Hg-1 X 100 gm-1, respectively, and were not significantly different (p greater than 0.05) from each other. Perfusate oncotic pressure, lobar compliance, blood gas levels, and pulmonary arterial pressure did not vary significantly among the experimental groups. Under these experimental conditions, Fluosol-DA, in blood concentrations that might be used clinically, was not associated with an increased microvascular permeability in the isolated dog lung lobe.