Prevention of respiratory failure after hydrochloric acid aspiration by intratracheal surfactant instillation in rats

Abstract

Because the surfactant system probably is involved in the pathophysiology of respiratory failure caused by hydrochloric acid (HCl) aspiration, we investigated the effects of different ventilation strategies and intratracheal surfactant instillation at different time intervals on the course of pulmonary gas exchange after HCl aspiration in rats. In this study rats were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated via a tracheostomy. Respiratory failure was induced by intratracheal instillation of 3 mL/kg 0.1 N HCl. Animals (n = 49) were divided into nine groups: Groups 1 and 2 through 9 were ventilated with peak airway pressure/positive end-expiratory pressure of 14/2 and 26/6 cm H2O, respectively; Groups 3 and 4 received surfactant (200 mg/kg) intratracheally, 1 and 10 min after HCl aspiration; Groups 5 and 6 received saline, 1 and 10 min after HCl aspiration; Groups 7 and 8 received surfactant, 60 and 90 min after HCl aspiration; Group 9 received saline instead of HCl. Gas exchange deteriorated in Groups 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8, whereas respiratory failure could be prevented in Groups 3 and 4. After deterioration of gas exchange, surfactant treatment prevented further decrease of PaO2 values in Group 7, whereas no effect on gas exchange was observed in Group 8; intratracheal instillation of saline had no effect on gas exchange (Group 9). These results suggest that surfactant should be given as early as possible after aspiration of gastric contents to prevent development of respiratory failure.