Liquid ventilation: from research to clinical application in the treatment of lung pathologies
Giuseppe A. Marraro

ARDS is under continuous investigation as today’s proposed therapies are not able to reduce mortality. Total liquid ventilation or partial liquid ventilation using perfluorocarbons appear to offer an alternative treatment both in animals and humans, not only in RDS in premature babies and ARDS in adults, due to the possibility to eliminate air/liquid interfaces and reduce surface tension, but also in meconium aspiration syndrome where they facilitate the removal of the meconium and eliminate inhomogeneous lung ventilation. In other lung pathologies liquid ventilation appears useful even though the number of patients treated is limited. While the improvement in gas exchange and the elimination of matter from the lung have been clearly demonstrated, improved survival rates and complications in prolonged treatment need further research and confirmation.

Keywords: ARDS, children, meconium aspiration syndrome, partial liquid ventilation, total liquid ventilation

Applied Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology 9: 3-8, 2000

Giuseppe A. Marraro, M.D.
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care
Fatebenefratelli and Ophthalmiatric Hospital
Milano, Italy
Phone: +39-02-6363-2414
Fax: +39-02-6363-2493
E-mail: gmarraro@wsn.it