Long-term high-frequency ventilation in dogs.

Abstract

The lungs of 11 anesthetized dogs (with or without preexisting lung disease) were ventilated for 36 h by high-frequency, small-volume ventilation (HFV) to determine the effects of HFV on pulmonary gas exchange, mechanical properties of the respiratory system, and function of the cardiovascular system. For comparison, the lungs of 5 other anesthetized dogs without preexisting lung disease were ventilated with conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) for a similar period. All dogs without preexisting lung disease whose lungs were ventilated with either HFV or CMV maintained satisfactory respiratory and cardiovascular functions for the duration of the study. After 36 h of HFV, no evidence for changes in the mechanical behavior of the lungs was detected. Small amounts of transudates were observed in the pleural space of all dogs ventilated with HFV; no dog ventilated with CMV had pleural effusions.