Neutrophil accumulation is reduced during partial liquid ventilation.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluates the ability of perflubron to inhibit pulmonary neutrophil accumulation during partial liquid ventilation (PLV) in the setting of acute lung injury.

DESIGN

Randomized, controlled, nonblinded study.

SETTING

Research laboratory at a university.

SUBJECTS

Male, Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 120, 506 +/- 42 g).

INTERVENTIONS

Animals were divided into eight groups (n = 15 in each group, of which n = 12 for myeloperoxidase content and n = 3 for histologic neutrophil counting): a) GV-CVF group, animals received gas ventilation (GV) with the induction of lung injury using cobra venom factor (CVF); b) PLV-CVF group, animals received partial liquid ventilation before the induction of lung injury; c) PEEP-CVF group, animals received positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) before the administration of cobra venom factor; d) CVF-PLV group, animals received partial liquid ventilation after cobra venom factor; e) CVF-PEEP group, animals received PEEP after cobra venom factor; f) PLV only group, animals received partial liquid ventilation only; g) GV only group, animals received gas ventilation only; and h) NVSBA group, nonventilated spontaneous breathing animals.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

After the experimental period, total lung myeloperoxidase content was significantly decreased in the PLV-CVF (0.29 +/- 0.08, p = .02) and PEEP-CVF (0.34 +/- 0.04, p = .01) groups when compared with the GV-CVF group (0.62 +/- 0.07). When compared with the GV-CVF group, a trend toward a reduction in myeloperoxidase was observed in the CVF-PLV (0.42 +/- 0.05, p = .07) and the CVF-PEEP (0.39 +/- 0.06, p = .07) groups. When compared with the cobra venom factor only group (GV-CVF 47 +/- 2 neutrophils/high-power field), reductions in neutrophil count were observed in all groups (neutrophils/high-power field): PLV-CVF (20 +/- 2, p = .009); PEEP-CVF (24 +/- 1, p = .01); CVF-PLV (30 +/- 2, p = .03); and CVF-PEEP (37 +/- 1, p = .04).

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that both partial liquid ventilation and PEEP result in a reduction in neutrophil accumulation in the setting of acute lung injury.