Lung volume recruitment during high-frequency oscillation in atelectasis-prone rabbits

In diffuse lung injury, optimal oxygenation occurs with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFO-A, where A is active expiratory phase) when sustained inflations (SI) are applied periodically to recruit lung volume. Theoretically pulsed pressures may be safer and more effective than static pressures for reexpanding alveoli. We compared the increases in lung volume and arterial PO2 (PaO2) induced by 30-s increases in mean airway pressure in six New Zealand White rabbits made atelectasis prone by saline lavage plus 1 h of conventional ventilation. Pulsatile SI's (HFO-A left on during increase in mean pressure) of delta PSI = 5, 10, and 15 cmH2O and static SI's (HFO-A off during SI) of delta PSI = 5, 10, 15, and 20 cmH2O were delivered in…