Abstract
BACKGROUND: A helium-oxygen gas mixture (heliox) has low gas density and low turbulence and resistance through narrowed airways. The effects of heliox on pulmonary mechanics following severe methacholine-induced bronchospasm were investigated and compared to those of a nitrogen-oxygen gas mixture (nitrox) in an innovative pediatric porcine, independent lung, mechanical ventilation model. RESULTS: All of the lungs showed evidence of severe bronchospasm after methacholine challenge. Prospective definition of 'heliox response' was a 15% or greater improvement in lung function in the lung receiving heliox compared with the matched lung receiving nitrox. Seven out of 10 pigs responded to heliox therapy with respect to resistance and eight out of 10 pigs responded to heliox therapy with respect to compliance and tidal volume (P < 0.03). After crossover from nitrox to heliox, eight out of eight lungs significantly improved with respect to tidal volume, resistance and compliance (P < 0.001). After crossover from heliox to nitrox all eight lungs showed a significant increase in resistance and a significant decrease in tidal volume (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In a pediatric porcine model of acute, severe methacholine-induced bronchospasm and independent lung mechanical ventilation, administration of heliox improves pulmonary mechanics, gas flow, and ventilation. Administration of heliox should be considered for support of pediatric patients with acute, severe bronchospasm requiring mechanical ventilation through small artificial airways.
Highlights
In 1935, Barach first advocated helium–oxygen gas mixtures as a therapy for obstructive lesions of the airway [1]
We have developed a pediatric porcine, independent lung ventilation model of severe bronchospasm which allows one of the animal’s lungs to act as a simultaneous control for the contralateral lung
Each pig was initially intubated with a 5.0 mm cuffed endotracheal tube and mechanically ventilated with a time cycled, pressure limited ventilator [peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) 18 cmH2O, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) 5 cmH2O, rate 30 breaths/min, inspiratory to expiratory ratio (I/E) 1:1, fractional inspiratory oxygen concentration (FiO2) 30%]
Summary
In 1935, Barach first advocated helium–oxygen gas mixtures (heliox) as a therapy for obstructive lesions of the airway [1]. The therapeutic effects of heliox gas mixtures are believed to relate to its ability to deliver oxygen and gas flow with less turbulence and resistance through narrowed airways. Since airway resistance is directly proportional to the density of the gas, the administration of heliox is expected to improve ventilation by decreasing resistance, reducing turbulence and promoting laminar gas flow. A helium–oxygen gas mixture (heliox) has low gas density and low turbulence and resistance through narrowed airways. The effects of heliox on pulmonary mechanics following severe methacholine-induced bronchospasm were investigated and compared to those of a nitrogen–oxygen gas mixture (nitrox) in an innovative pediatric porcine, independent lung, mechanical ventilation model
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