Pulmonary lavage in preterm lambs.

Pulmonary function was studied before and after bilateral lung lavage with oxygenated FC-80 fluorocarbon liquid in seven perterm lambs, 134 days of gestation. Measurements of transpulmoary pressure, airflow, tidal volume, and functional residual capacity (FRC) enabled calculation of lung resistance and compliance, specific compliance, and work of breathing. Immediately postlavage, arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) decreased significantly (P less than 0.05) by 41% from control values. In addition, at 1 hr postlavage, lung compliance significantly decreased (P less than 0.01) by 43% from control levels. Lung resistance, FRC work of breathing arterial carbon dioxide tension, and pH postlavage were not significantly different from prelavage values. The mean volume of FC-80 remaining in the lungs at 1 hr postlavage was 32% of the instilled volume. These data indicate that lung lavage with a low surface tension liquid has a relatively small effect on lung mechanics of the premature lung.