Variation of Diagnostic Ultrasound-Induced Pulmonary Capillary Hemorrhage with Fraction of Inspired Oxygen

Abstract

Pulmonary capillary hemorrhage induction by diagnostic ultrasound (DUS-PCH) was investigated with respect to the influence of the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2). Sprague–Dawley rats were anesthetized with Telazol only (TO) or Telazol plus xylazine (TX), which can enhance DUS-PCH. A linear array probe (10 L, GE Vivid 7 Dimension) was used in B-mode at 7.5 MHz to expose the right lung. FiO2 at 10%, 20%, 60% and 100% was delivered through a nose cone. On the ultrasound images, the PCH effect was observed as growing comet tail (B-line) artifacts and as subpleural consolidated segments at higher FiO2. PCH for TO with 20% and 60% FiO2 were significantly greater (p < 0.05) than for the 10% FiO2. PCHs with TX at 10% and 20% FiO2 were significantly greater (p < 0.02) than those for TO anesthesia. Added xylazine and high percentages of FiO2 reduced PCH thresholds, but xylazine and high percentages of FiO2 together did not lower the PCH threshold further. The lowest threshold observed, 1.4 MPa, corresponded to an in situ mechanical index of 0.5.