Effects of different ventilatory settings on alveolar and pulmonary microvessel dimensions in pigs

Elisa Damiani*, Erika Casarotta, Caterina Di Bella, Margherita Galosi, Alessio Angorini, Federica Serino, Adolfo Maria Tambella, Fulvio Laus, Samuele Zuccari, Alessio Salvucci Salice, Roberta Domizi, Andrea Carsetti, Can Ince, Abele Donati

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

2 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Mechanical ventilation with high tidal volume (TV) or positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) may induce lung overinflation and increased pulmonary vascular resistance to flow. In 8 healthy mechanically ventilated pigs, we evaluated whether incident dark field (IDF) vital microscopy, applied through a small thoracotomy, could be used to evaluate changes in alveolar and pulmonary microvessel dimensions under different ventilator settings. High TV (12 ml/kg) increased alveolar diameters (from 99 ± 13 to 114 ± 6 μm, p < 0.05 repeated measures one way analysis of variance) and reduced septal capillary diameters (from 12.1 ± 1.7 to 10.5 ± 1.4 μm, p < 0.001) as compared to 8 ml/kg TV. This effect was more pronounced in non-dependent lung. Alveolar and microvessel diameters did not change with high PEEP (12 cmH2O Vs. 5 cmH2O). High FiO2 (100%) led to pulmonary vasodilation (from 12.1 ± 1.7 to 14.7 ± 1.4 μm, p < 0.001), with no change in alveolar dimensions as compared to 50% FiO2. In conclusion, IDF imaging enabled to obtain high-quality images of subpleural alveoli and microvessels. High TV ventilation may induce alveolar distension with compression of septal capillaries, thus potentially increasing dead space ventilation.

Original languageEnglish
Article number30391
JournalScientific Reports
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Dec 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effects of different ventilatory settings on alveolar and pulmonary microvessel dimensions in pigs'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this