Effect of continuous rotation on the efficacy of partial liquid (perflubron) breathing in canine acute lung injury

Recent Advances in 19Fluorine Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Perfluorocarbon Emulsions

The research roots of ¹⁹fluorine (¹⁹F) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) date back over 35 years. Over that time span, ¹H imaging flourished and was adopted worldwide with an endless array of applications and imaging approaches, making magnetic resonance an indispensable pillar of biomedical diagnostic imaging. For many years during this timeframe, ¹⁹F imaging research continued at a slow pace as the various attributes of the technique were explored. However, over the last decade and particularly the last several years, the pace and clinical relevance of ¹⁹F imaging has exploded. In part, this is due to advances in MRI instrumentation, ¹⁹F/¹H coil designs, and ultrafast pulse sequence development for both preclinical and clinical scanners. These achievements, coupled with interest in the molecular imaging of anatomy and physiology, and combined with a cadre of innovative agents, have brought the concept of ¹⁹F into early clinical evaluation. In this review, we attempt to provide a slice of this rich history of research and development, with a particular focus on liquid perfluorocarbon compound-based agents.

Partial liquid ventilation provides effective gas exchange in a large animal model

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to show the ability of partial liquid ventilation (PLV) to sustain gas exchange in normal large (50 to 70 kg) adult animals.

METHODS

Ten adult sheep (53.7 +/- 2.8 kg) were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated. Sequential dosing of perflubron (LiquiVent, Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp, San Diego, CA) was performed to cumulative doses of 10 mL/kg, 20 mL/kg, 40 mL/kg, and 60 mL/kg. Physiological data were assessed at baseline and after each dose. Five animals were rotated through the left decubitus, right decubitus, supine, and prone positions while five animals remained prone throughout the experiment.

RESULTS

PaO2 and PaCO2 did not change significantly from baseline during administration of perflubron except for the PaO2 in rotated animals when supine (rotated-supine PaO2: baseline = 519 +/- 64 mm Hg; 60 mL/kg = 380 +/- 109 mm Hg, P = .0131). In both groups, static lung compliance (CT) decreased steadily with each successive perflubron instillation (nonrotated CT: baseline = 1.55 +/- 0.22 mL/cm H2O/kg; 60 mL/kg = 0.52 +/- 0.10 ml/cmH2O/kg, P = .0003).

CONCLUSIONS

These data show that during PLV in this normal animal model, effective gas exchange is sustained and CT decreases with increasing perflubron dose.