OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of high frequency partial liquid ventilation (HFJV) on the cardiopulmonary function in dogs with inhalation injury.

METHODSSixteen mongrel dogs inflicted by hot steam inhalation were subjected to severe inhalation injury and were randomly divided into control (C) and treatment (T) groups. The dogs in both groups were all given HFJV. In addition, the dogs in T group were simultaneously supplied with perfluorocarbon liquid (3 ml/kg) into the lungs slowly via tracheal intubation for liquid ventilation. The blood gas analysis, pulmonary compliance, airway resistance and hemodynamic parameters were determined at 30, 60 and 90 minutes after ventilation.

RESULTSThe PaO(2) in T group increased progressively, which was significantly higher than the post-injury value at all time points (P < 0.05). While the PaO(2) in C group exhibited no difference to the post-injury value at all time points. The PaCO(2) in T group increased obviously and was higher than the post-injury value at 60 and 90 post-ventilation minutes (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the PaO(2) in all the time points in T group was a little higher than that in C group (P > 0.05) and PaCO(2) in T group was much higher than that in C group at 90 min after ventilation (P < 0.05). But there was no difference between the two groups in terms of dynamic/static pulmonary compliance and airway resistance as well as the hemodynamics.

CONCLUSIONCompared with simple HFJV, high frequency partial liquid ventilation seemed to be beneficial to the oxygenation after inhalation injury and to be no influence on the hemodynamics.