Increase in cardiac output and PEEP as mechanism of pulmonary optimization.

The influence of cardiac output (CO) and PEEP on pulmonary shunt (Qs/Qt) has been the subjects of considerable investigation but findings are controversial. The role of CO and PEEP on 19 isolated rabbit lung preparations perfused with hypoxic mixture (6% CO2, 10% O2, and 84% N2), which resulted in a constant oxygen venous pressure (64 +/- 5.6 mmHg) has been studied. The first group of 11 preparations were used to study the influence of CO modifications with room air ventilation on the Qs/Qt when the CO rises in 48%; in the second group simultaneous modifications in CO and PEEP (0.5 and 10 cm H2O) were performed. A positive correlation (p < 0.01) in Qs/Qt (0.048 +/- 0.04 to 0.12933 +/- 0.09) was found when the CO increased in the first experimental group, the fluid filtration rate (FFR) also increased and the pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) remained stable. In the second group an increase of 5 and 10 cm H2O of PEEP at constant CO reduced the Qs/Qt (0.0361 +/- 0.02 to 0.0184 +/- 0.006) while it increased the arterio-venous oxygen difference, PVR and FFR. During high CO conditions increase of 5 and 10 cm H2O of PEEP reduced the Qs/Qt (0.099 +/- 0.03 to 0.027 +/- 0.02) and FFR. These data suggest that when the Qs/Qt is increased, the use of PEEP can compensate the ventilation/perfusion alterations and restore pulmonary gas exchange.