Liquid ventilation in dogs: an apparatus for normobaric and hyperbaric studies

Abstract

A liquid-breathing apparatus is described for remote surface studies and for use in experiments of near-hydraulic compression in dogs. It consists of a flexible tank sealed against chamber gas, containing a supply of clean warmed (38 degrees C) fluorocarbon (FC-80) equilibrated with 1 bar O2 and an electronically controlled means of delivering the liquid to the dog. Each breath (tidal volume 290 ml) was "weighed" into the animal by the signal from a force platform supporting the dog and a digital control unit that automatically actuated inspired-and expired-line solenoid valves. The apparatus was successfully used to remotely maintain liquid ventilation in awake dogs for 2 h during surface studies (5 dogs) and in dives to 1,000 m seawater (5 dogs). During liquid breathing, mean arterial O2 partial pressure was always adequate (congruent to 300 Torr) and mean arterial CO2 partial pressure was normal (less than or equal to 40 Torr). An uncompensated metabolic acidosis was indicated by low pH values and a decrease in arterial base excess to--4.5 meq x 1(-1). O2 uptake and CO2 output appeared to be significantly lower (42 and 35%, respectively) during liquid ventilation.