Maintenance of Respiratory Function with Isolated Lung Lobes During Cardiac Inflow Occlusion.

Abstract

Dogs withstood and recovered from 30 minutes of total inflow occlusion to the right heart with extra-corporeal cardio-respiratory maintenance at an average flow of 35 cc/kg/minute, utilizing a biologic oxygenator (autologous and homologous lung lobes) and a pump. In using this system the following precautions seemed essential (1) patency of the pulmonary veins[long dash]i.e., no cannulization whatever, (2) depulsator in pulmonary artery perfusion limb of the circuit, (3) care as to ventilatory mechanics of the isolated lobes. The open system employed herein permitted rather exact balance between venous aspiration from the by-passed dog and arterial return to the dog, and enabled flow measurements to be made.