Effect of high-frequency ventilation on extravascular lung water volume in dogs

We studied the effect of high-frequency ventilation (HFV) (3 Hz for 2 h) on extravascular lung water in normal dogs and dogs with pulmonary edema. We used an endobronchial dividing tube to ventilate one lung with HFV and to keep the contralateral lung of the same dog static with an identical airway pressure, allowing each animal to serve as its own control. Results showed no change in the extravascular lung water with HFV compared with the static lungs in normal, mild pulmonary edema, and severe pulmonary edema groups. We conclude that HFV has no appreciable effect on lung fluid balance; the lymphatic system retains its ability to increase flow even with experimentally produced pulmonary edema.