FREE NEJM E-TOC    HOME   |   SUBSCRIBE   |   CURRENT ISSUE   |   PAST ISSUES   |   COLLECTIONS   |   Search Term  Advanced Search

Sign in | Get NEJM's E-Mail Table of Contents — Free | Subscribe

Previous Volume 307:277-283 July 29, 1982 Number 5 Next

	Add to Personal Archive Add to Citation Manager Notify a Friend E-mail When Cited PubMed Citation

Abstract

We gave a perfluorochemical oxygen-transport fluid and plasma expander, Fluosol-DA, to seven severely anemic patients before surgery to determine its effectiveness in supplementing oxygen transport. The dose of Fluosol in the five patients completing the study was 20 ml per kilogram of body weight. When the patients breathed low levels of supplemental oxygen (mean partial pressure of arterial oxygen +/- S.D., 101 +/- 25 torr), the perfluorochemical carried a small amount of oxygen, but when they received pure oxygen (arterial oxygen pressure, 361 +/- 65 torr) it carried approximately 0.8 per cent of oxygen (by volume). This increase accounted for 7 +/- 3 per cent of the patients' arterial oxygen content and 24 +/- 7 per cent of their oxygen consumption. The cardiac index and left ventricular stroke-work index decreased, whereas the oxygen delivery increased, although these changes were not statistically significant. Significant changes included a 22 per cent increase in oxygen consumption, a 59 per cent increase in mixed venous oxygen tension, and an increase in mixed venous hemoglobin saturation to 90 +/- 6 per cent. We conclude that at ambient oxygen tensions fluosol acts primarily as a volume expander, whereas at higher tensions (greater than 300 torr) it contributes substantially to the oxygen-delivery system.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Cuignet, O. Y., Wood, B. L., Chandler, W. L., Spiess, B. D. (2000). A Second-Generation Blood Substitute (Perfluorodichlorooctane Emulsion) Generates Spurious Elevations in Platelet Counts from Automated Hematology Analyzers. Anesth. Analg. 90: 517-522 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Brain, J. D., Molina, R. M., DeCamp, M. M., Warner, A. E. (1999). Effects of a perfluorochemical emulsion on the fate of circulating Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 276: L1037-L1045 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Wahr, J. A., Tremper, K. K. (1998). Blood Substitutes in Cardiac Surgery. SEMIN CARDIOTHORAC VASC ANESTH 2: 272-282 [Abstract]  
• Scott, M. G., Kucik, D. F., Goodnough, L. T., Monk, T. G. (1997). Blood substitutes: evolution and future applications. Clin. Chem. 43: 1724-1731 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Spence, R. K. (1993). Transfusion Practices in Vascular Surgery. PERSPECT VASC SURG ENDOVASC THER 6: 14-43  
• Harjula, A. L., Mattila, S., Myllarniemi, H., Mattila, I., Mattila, P., Merikallio, E. (1986). Effects of Synthetic Blood Combined with Contrast Medium on Coronary Endothelium: An Experimental Study. ANGIOLOGY 37: 41-46 [Abstract]  
• Teicher, B., Rose, C. (1984). Perfluorochemical emulsions can increase tumor radiosensitivity. Science 223: 934-936 [Abstract]  
• Bucala, R, Kawakami, M, Cerami, A (1983). Cytotoxicity of a perfluorocarbon blood substitute to macrophages in vitro. Science 220: 965-967 [Abstract]