Effect of Ventilation Rate on Instilled Surfactant Distribution in the Pulmonary Airways of Rats

Authors

Joseph C. Anderson, Marquette University
Robert C. Molthen, Marquette UniversityFollow
Christopher A. Dawson, Medical College of WisconsinFollow
Steven Thomas Haworth, Marquette UniversityFollow
Joseph L. Bull, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Matthew R. Glucksburg, Northwestern University
James B. Grotberg, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

6 p.

Publication Date

7-2004

Publisher

American Physiological Society

Source Publication

Journal of Applied Physiology

Source ISSN

0021-8987

Original Item ID

doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00609.2003

Abstract

Liquid can be instilled into the pulmonary airways during medical procedures such as surfactant replacement therapy, partial liquid ventilation, and pulmonary drug delivery. For all cases, understanding the dynamics of liquid distribution in the lung will increase the efficacy of treatment. A recently developed imaging technique for the study of real-time liquid transport dynamics in the pulmonary airways was used to investigate the effect of respiratory rate on the distribution of an instilled liquid, surfactant, in a rat lung. Twelve excised rat lungs were suspended vertically, and a single bolus (0.05 ml) of exogenous surfactant (Survanta, Ross Laboratories, Columbus, OH) mixed with radiopaque tracer was instilled as a plug into the trachea. The lungs were ventilated with a 4-ml tidal volume for 20 breaths at one of two respiratory rates: 20 or 60 breaths/min. The motion of radiodense surfactant was imaged at 30 frames/s with a microfocal X-ray source and an image intensifier. Dynamics of surfactant distribution were quantified for each image by use of distribution statistics and a homogeneity index. We found that the liquid distribution depended on the time to liquid plug rupture, which depends on ventilation rate. At 20 breaths/min, liquid was localized in the gravity-dependent region of the lung. At 60 breaths/min, the liquid coated the airways, providing a more vertically uniform liquid distribution.

Comments

Accepted version. Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol. 97, No. 1 (July 2004): 39-44. DOI. © 2004 American Physiological Society. Used with permission.

Robert Molthen was also affiliated with the Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center at the time of publication.

Recommended Citation

Anderson, Joseph C.; Molthen, Robert C.; Dawson, Christopher A.; Haworth, Steven Thomas; Bull, Joseph L.; Glucksburg, Matthew R.; and Grotberg, James B., "Effect of Ventilation Rate on Instilled Surfactant Distribution in the Pulmonary Airways of Rats" (2004). Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications. 112.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bioengin_fac/112