Postural effects on lung volumes and asynchronous ventilation in anesthetized horses

Quasi-static pressure-volume curves and single-breath nitrogen washouts were performed simultaneously on eight anesthetized horses (average body wt = 485 kg) in left lateral, right lateral, prone, and supine postures (sequence randomized). The shift from prone to lateral or supine posture decreased expiratory reserve volume (ERV), vital capacity (VC), residual volume (RV), functional residual capacity (FRC), and total lung capacity (TLC); RV and FRC expressed as %TLC were unchanged, suggesting that in the lateral and supine postures a significant portion of the lung volume was not recruited by VC maneuvers. Phase III slope increased from 0.13 %N2/l in prone horses to 0.34 %N2/l in the lateral and supine positions. The onset of phase IV was not significantly different from FRC in the prone or laterally recombent animal, but exceeded FRC in the supine horse. The sequence of body positions had no effect on any of our results indicating that all changes in lung volumes and regional asynchronous ventilation c;n be reversed by placing the horse in the prone posture. The reduction in lung volume and increased asynchronous ventilation in the lateral and supine horse suggests that impaired gas exchange in anesthetized horses is predominantly related to posture, and not general anesthesia.