Effects of alkaline agents on respiratory characteristics in rabbit models of respiratory failure

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of alkaline agents on reducing strong inspiratory effort. Rabbits with hypercapnia or lung injury, induced via repeated lung lavage following injurious ventilation, were treated with Saline, NaHCO₃, or Trometamol. In the hypercapnia, minute ventilation and tidal volume were unchanged during NaHCO₃ administration; however, one hour after the end of NaHCO₃ these parameters decreased (82.1+/-7.8 %, 90.8+/-6.0 % of the baseline, respectively, p < 0.05). Trometamol reduced minute ventilation, tidal volume, and respiratory rate after infusion (59.8+/-19.0 %, 87.0+/-9.2 %, 68.2+/-18.4 % of the baseline, respectively, p < 0.05). Alkaline agents did not cause a large change in the cerebrospinal fluid acid-base balance. In the lung injury model, NaHCO₃ and Trometamol had little effect on ventilation. However, Trometamol reduced transpulmonary pressure. Trometamol exerted more inhibitory effects on ventilation than NaHCO₃ in the hypercapnia model, and Trometamol reduced the transpulmonary pressure in the lung injury model.

Keywords: Hypercapnia; Lung injury; NaHCO(3) inspiratory effort; Transpulmonary pressure; Trometamol.