Validation of a respiratory mask for measuring gas exchange in exercising swine

A respiratory mask was developed for resting and exercising swine. The lightweight, low-dead-space design fits airtight against the animals' snouts to provide breath-by-breath measurements of respiration and metabolism. Validation of the mask was carried out using the Fick principle with dye-dilution cardiac outputs and arterial and mixed venous O2 content measurements. Linear regression analysis of O2 consumption (VO2) measurements by the two techniques revealed a slope of 1.07 and a Y-intercept of -1.06 ml X kg-1 X min-1. The standard error of the estimate of VO2 was 3.5 ml X kg-1 X min-1. The mask design permits rapid measurements of ventilation and metabolism in response to acute and chronic exercise.