Efficiency of work of inspiratory muscles in standing and in exercising dogs

The objective of this study was to elucidate the resistive, elastic, and total inspiratory muscle work and mainly the efficiency of the inspiratory muscle work in still standing and in exercising dogs. In 180 experiments with nine mongrel dogs, respiratory and circulatory functions were recorded at rest and during a 1.5-mph walk on a treadmill belt which was inclined by 9 degrees. Each dog had been trained and surgically prepared before the series of experiments started. An electronic pressure transducer together with a fluid-filled catheter was attached to the ribs at the midthoracic level. Airflow was monitored with a pneumotachygraph attached to a face mask. Aortic flow was monitored with an electromagnetic flow transducer. Catheters in the atria, the ventricles, and the pulmonary and systemic vessels were used to determine hemodynamic parameters and blood gas levels. All recorded and all derived functions were evaluated by a dedicated computer. At rest, resistive inspiratory work (0.98 kg cm) was smaller than elastic work (1.36 kg cm). Elastic work did not change with exercise but resistive work increased to 1.46 kg.cm. The increase of total work from 2.33 kg.cm at rest to 2.79 kg.cm during exercise did not reach significance. Inspiratory power increased with exercise. Estimated diaphragmatic oxygen consumption increased from 2.23 ml/min at rest to 3.64 ml/min during exercise. It was 1.6 percent of the total oxygen consumption at rest and 1.7 percent of the total oxygen consumption during exercise. The estimated efficiency of the work of inspiratory muscles was 15.8 percent at rest and 25.8 percent during exercise. These values did not vary substantially between different animals.