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A pressurized injection/suction system for ventilation in the presence of complete airway obstruction
A Schapera1, C R Bainton, R Kraemer
1Department of Anesthesiology, University of California at San Francisco.
Objective:
To describe the design and ventilatory characteristics of a new mode of ventilation (pressurized injection/suction ventilation).
Design:
Descriptive and analytical laboratory study.
Setting:
Laboratory study.
Subjects:
Simulated lung model and dogs.
Interventions:
We tested the ability to maintain ventilation through a 2.5-mm internal diameter ventilating stylet in the setting of simulated complete airway occlusion. A microprocessor-controlled ventilator mode was used wherein injection of oxygen under high pressure (flow rate 95 L/min) alternates with suction of expired gas (flow rate 18 L/min) through the ventilating stylet.
Measurements And Main Results:
In a lung model, we achieved a maximum minute ventilation of 12.9 L/min. In two dogs, we maintained stable oxygenation (mean PaO2 603 +/- 47 torr [80.4 +/- 6.3 kPa]) and ventilation (mean PaCO2 19 +/- 3 torr [2.5 +/- 0.4 kPa]) for 15 mins at maximum minute ventilation settings. No clinically important deleterious effects on the tracheal mucosa were observed. The ventilator system's safety-abort feature prevented overinflation or excessive deflation of the dogs' lungs in every test of simulated malfunction of the pressure-monitoring mechanism.
Conclusions:
Pressurized injection/suction ventilation can maintain adequate gas exchange in an animal model with near-complete airway obstruction. Further work is needed to develop the safety and clinical applications of pressurized injection/suction ventilation in the management of patients with near-complete airway occlusion.