Measurement of carbon monoxide transfer and lung volume in ventilated subjects

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A simple method for measuring lung volume and carbon monoxide transfer factor (TLCO) by a rebreathing technique was assessed in nine healthy volunteers undergoing intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV). Measurements of TLCO, alveolar volume (VA) and carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (KCO) made at three inspired oxygen concentrations (21, 35 and 70%) during IPPV were compared to those obtained during spontaneous breathing. The effects of 10 cmH2O positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) were also studied. Pulmonary capillary blood volume (Vc) and the diffusing capacity of the alveolar capillary membrane (Dm) were derived. There was a close correlation between measurements of TLCO during IPPV (TLCOIPPV) and spontaneous breathing (TLCOSV) (r = 0.92). Ventilated TLCO was 64 +/- 8% of spontaneously breathing TLCO. There was a close agreement between ventilated and spontaneously breathing measurements of KCO (r = 0.95; mean difference 0.14, 95% limits of agreement +0.37 to -0.09 mmol.min-1 x kPa-1 x l-1). Vc was 92 +/- 23 ml during spontaneous breathing and 72 +/- 21 ml during IPPV (p < 0.05). PEEP of 10 cmH2O significantly increased functional residual capacity (2.3 +/- 0.5 to 3.5 +/- 0.6 l) and decreased TLCO (5.9 +/- 1.0 to 5.3 +/- 1.2 mmol.min-1 x kPa-1), KCO (1.7 +/- 0.2 to 1.1 +/- 0.3 mmol.min-1 x kPa-1 x l-1) and Vc (82 +/- 22 to 56 +/- 20 ml). Dm did not change with PEEP. This simple method may be a useful means of assessing gas exchange and lung volume in ventilated subjects. It showed that PEEP increased lung volume but reduced TLCO and that this reduction appeared to be due to a reduction in capillary blood volume.