Estimation of diffusion limitation after pneumonectomy from carbon monoxide diffusing capacity

C. C W Hsia, J. I. Carlin, M. Ramanathan, S. S. Cassidy, R. L. Johnson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

In three foxhounds, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DlCO) was reduced by 25-30% after left pneumonectomy. Based on previous morphometric data in animals and physiologic data in humans, this reduction should not result in any impairment in gas exchange. However, experimental evidence indicates that diffusion limitation develops during exercise after pneumonectomy. Our objective is to determine whether this diffusion limitation to gas exchange can be predicted from physiologic measurements of DlCO. DlCO measured by the rebreathing technique was translated into diffusing capacity for O2 (DlO2) using an average conversion factor for canids obtained morphometrically (Weibel et al., Respir. Physiol. 54: 173-188, 1983). Arterial O2 saturation (SaO2) at various intensities of stead state exercise was calculated from DlO2 and measured values of O2 consumption, alveolar PO2, hemoglobin and arterial pH, and compared to observed SaO2. After pneumonectomy, SaO2 declined progressively with increasing exercise load. In all dogs, the observed pattern of arterial O2 saturation could be predicted from DlCO measured at similar work loads. The relationship between predicted (Pr) and observed (Ob) SaO2 is: SaO2(Pr) = 22.73 + 0.77SaO2(Ob), r = 0.92. The slope is significantly less than 1.0 (P<0.005), indicating that other factors must also contribute to arterial desaturation. We conclude that physiologic measurement of DlCO is a meaningful indicator of diffusion limitation to gas exchange. In the foxhound, a modest reduction in DlCO significantly impairs O2 transport during exercise; but other gas exchange abnormalities, e.g. ventilation perfusion inhomogeneity, must also develop.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11-21
Number of pages11
JournalRespiration Physiology
Volume83
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1991

Keywords

  • Animal, dog
  • Diffusing capacity, predicted vs observed, for CO
  • Exercise, and lung diffusing capacity
  • Pneumonectomy, and lung diffusing capacity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

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