Transperitoneal oxygenation with fluorocarbons

This work investigated the improvement of arterial oxygenation in hypoxic rats during peritoneal perfusion with the oxygen-carrying perfluorocarbon blood substitute FC43. Three groups of six Wistar rats were ventilated with hypoxic gas mixtures to obtain an arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) of approximately 55 mm Hg. Two groups were subjected to peritoneal perfusion at 20 ml/min with oxygenated FC43 or the gelatine solution Haemaccel. A third group was sham operated but not perfused. In both perfused groups PaO2 increased significantly, more so in the FC43 group. Carbon dioxide tensions significantly decreased only in the FC43 group. Significant increases in arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation were seen after 15 min in the FC43 group and after 60 min in the Haemaccel group. More than 15% of oxygen consumption could be delivered by peritoneal perfusion with FC43.