Pulmonary insufficiency induced by oleic acid in the sheep: a model for investigation of extracorporeal oxygenation.

Most previous studies of the efficiency of bypass techniques for respiratory support have been conducted in hypoxic but otherwise normal animals. However, mechanisms of improved oxygenation by partial venoarterial bypass in the presence of acute respiratory insufficiency can be better studied with an appropriate pathophysiologic model; for this purpose, acute hemorrhagic pulmonary edema was induced in sheep by injection of oleic acid into the right atrium. The model presented a 3 hour period of elevated pulmonary shunting with stable hemodynamics. This preparation is being employed to the study of the mechanisms of extracorporeal oxygenation.