The use of intratracheal pulmonary ventilation and partial liquid ventilation in newborn piglets with meconium aspiration syndrome

Objective To determine whether intratracheal pulmonary ventilation (ITPV) combined with partial liquid ventilation (PLV) improves oxygenation and ventilation at lower mean airway and peak inspiratory pressures when compared with conventional mechanical ventilation in a piglet model of meconium aspiration syndrome. Design Prospective, randomized, interventional study. Setting Animal Research Laboratory at the Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC. Subjects Twenty newborn piglets, 1 to 2 wks of age, 1.8–2.8 kg in weight. Intervention The animals were anesthetized, paralyzed, and intubated with a 4.0 mm (internal diameter) endotracheal tube via a tracheostomy and were ventilated. Catheters were placed in the femoral artery and vein. Seven milliliters per kilogram of 20% human meconium was insufflated into the lungs over 30 mins. Dynamic pulmonary compliance was measured before and after instillation of meconium. Animals were ventilated to maintain arterial blood gases in a normal range, that is, pH = 7.35–7.45, Paco2 = 40–45 torr (5.3–6.0 kPa), and Pao2 = 70–90 torr (9.3–12.0 kPa). Ventilator settings were increased as needed to a maximum setting of Fio2 = 1.0, peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) = 40 cm H2O, positive end-expiratory pressure = 5 cm H2O, and intermittent mandatory ventilation = 60 bpm. After a period of stabilization, 30 mL/kg of perflubron (Liquivent; Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp., San Diego, CA) was given intratracheally over 30 mins and the animals were randomized to either ITPV or control group. Measurements and Results Arterial blood gases were taken every 30 mins, and ventilatory settings were adjusted to achieve the targeted blood gas parameters. The animals’ temperature, arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were monitored continuously. There was a significant decrease in the dynamic pulmonary compliance measurements in both groups immediately after meconium instillation. Compliance measurements after meconium instillation were similar in both groups (0.67 ± 0.23 mL/cm H2O/kg ITPV; 0.88 ± 0.46 mL/cm H2O/kg conventional, p = .17), indicating a similar degree of injury before the administration of perflubron. PIP and mean airway pressures were not significantly different at baseline; however, there was significant difference in PIP at 0, 2, and 4 hrs after administration of perflubron (p < .05). The maximum PIP and mean airway pressure were seen in both groups after meconium instillation before perflubron administration, with a mean PIP of 29.0 ± 4.6 cm H2O in ITPV and 28.8 ± 2.1 cm H2O in control. Mean airway pressure was significantly different between the two groups at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hrs after perflubron administration. Lung pathology showed a uniform distribution of meconium in animals of both groups. The alveolar spaces were relatively clear of meconium and appeared to be well preserved. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that ITPV combined with PLV allows for effective ventilation and oxygenation in piglets with meconium aspiration syndrome at lower mean airway pressure and PIP compared with conventional ventilation combined with PLV.