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Elastic properties of the lung and the chest wall in young and adult healthy pigs

Depts of ¹ Clinical Physiology, ² Anesthesia and Intensive Care, and ³ Surgery, University Hospital of Lund, Lund, Sweden. ⁴ Dept of Anesthesia and Intensive, University "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, Napoli, Italy

CORRESPONDENCE: B. Jonson, Dept of Clinical Physiology, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden, S-221 85. Fax: 46 46151769

Keywords: animal, elastance, mechanics, porcine, recruitment

Received: December 28, 1999
Accepted November 28, 2000

This study was supported by the Swedish Medical Research Council (grants 02872), the Swedish Heart Lung Foundation, and Stiftelsen Länsförsäkringsbolagens Försäkringsfond. Dr De Robertis was supported by a scholarship of the Swedish Institute.

Understanding of the elastic pressure/volume (P_el/V) curve is still limited in health and disease. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the P_el/V curve and elastance of the respiratory system (E_RS) lung (E_L) and chest wall (E_CW) in healthy pigs.

Six young (20.8 kg) and seven adult (58.9 kg), anaesthetized, paralysed and ventilated pigs were studied. P_el/V curves were recorded at zero end-expiratory pressure (ZEEP) and at positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) up to 40 cmH₂O with a computer controlled ventilator during an insufflation at a low, constant flow.

P_el/V curves of the respiratory system showed a complex pattern in both young and adult pigs. During the insufflation, E_RS decreased, increased, fell, and increased again. A second P_el/V curve recorded immediately after the first one showed lower elastance and only one early fall in E_RS. E_CW fell over the initial segment and was then nearly stable. Difference between 1st and 2nd curves reflected changes in E_L caused by recruitment during the 1st insufflation. At PEEP, such signs of collapse and recruitment were reduced.

A strong tendency to lung collapse contributes to a complex pattern of elastic pressure/volume curves. At low volumes and distending pressures the chest wall contributes significantly to changes in respiratory system elastance.