Whole body oxygenation using intraperitoneal perfusion of fluorocarbons

A preliminary study was undertaken to assess the feasibility of increasing the arterial oxygen tension, and decreasing the arterial carbon dioxide tension, in intact animals, by means of peritoneal perfusion with the perfluorocarbon-containing, oxygen-transporting blood substitute, 20% Fluosol-DA. Perfusion was carried out in rabbits using a bubble oxygenator and circulator pump, delivering Fluosol at a rate of 25 ml min-1. Control blood-gas measurements were carried out at various FIO2 between 0.5 and (if the animal was not severely hypoxic) 0.16. The measurements were repeated during the intraperitoneal perfusion of Fluosol. At all values of FIO2, significant increases in PaO2 were seen (P less than 0.05). Significant decreases of PaCO2 (P less than 0.05) were seen if the animals were not hypoxic (PaO2 greater than 10 kPa).