Comparison of Oxygen Poisoning of the Lung in Cyanotic and Acyanotic Dogs

Abstract

Cyanosis was produced in dogs by the surgical creation of large intracardiac venoarterial shunts. Eight cyanotic and 10 acyanotic dogs were exposed, awake and unrestricted, to 1 atmosphere of 98 per cent to 100 per cent oxygen for two days. In each of the two groups of animals, a similar frequency and extent of pulmonary oxygen damage was found, as judged by the production of respiratory distress, atelectasis, alveolar edema and hemorrhage and abnormal surface tension of whole-lung extracts. Cyanosis did not protect against pulmonary injury from 100 per cent oxygen at 1 atmosphere for two days.