Study on the safety of massive lung lavage to dogs after acute serious smoke inhalation

Objective To explore the feasibility and safety of massive lung lavage to dogs in the early stage after acute serious smoke inhalation. Methods A total of 16 dogs were inflicted with smoke inhaled injury and then divided into group A ( n =5) without lung lavage, group B ( n =6) in which left lung lavage was followed by lavage on the right 30 min later, and group C ( n =5) in which the interval of the lavages on the left and right lung was 4 h. Massive lung lavage was carried out in 1 h after the injury under the guiding fiberoptic bronchoscopy and a special ventilation jet was served to supply enough oxygen to the dogs. The stability of pulmonary function and blood circulation were observed at different time points in every group. Results The average operating time of unilateral lung lavage was about 15 minuted and the liquid volume left in every lung after operation was from 100 ml to 140 ml when the total lavaging volume was kept in 250 ml. The changes of hemodynamic parameters were identical in Group B and Group C. Inhalation injury had certain negative effect while lung lavage almost had no effect on the blood circulation of the animals in 2 lavage groups. No serious cardiac arrythemia was found in them during the lavaging. Pulmonary function in Group C was better than that in Group B but worse than that in Group A. In the 2 lavaging groups, PaO 2 remained higher than 9.33 kPa(FiO 2=0.4)during and after the lavaging. Conclusion The ventilation mode and the lavage method introduced here ensure the safety of massive lung lavage in dogs with acute smoke serious inhalation injury.