Modeling the Impact of Animal Size on the Effectiveness of Peritoneal Oxygenation

Abstract

This paper develops a scalable model of the dynamics of gas exchange during peritoneal oxygenation, motivated by the potential of such oxygenation to provide life support for patients with severe respiratory failure. The literature presents peritoneal oxygenation experiments for both large and small animals, including adult swine, rabbits, rats, and piglets. Results of these experiments suggest a potential discrepancy, with the benefits of peritoneal oxygenation possibly being stronger for smaller animals. We hypothesize that this size dependence is at least partially attributable to the effect of animal size on the ratio of peritoneal diffusion surface area to animal volume. The paper develops a scalable multi-compartment model of gas transport dynamics during peritoneal oxygenation. Simulating this model provides important insights regarding the potential impact of animal size on the viability of peritoneal oxygenation.