LIQUID VENTILATION

Abstract

Concept of liquid breathing in humans was first presented in front of the world in the form of a fiction movie “The Abyss”. However, this fiction is fast becoming a reality. Since the first description of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in 1967, the search has been on to get a novel approach of mechanical ventilation for these patients. Protective lung strategies have been devised to serve the same purpose. In the meantime, scientists have been busy in developing an ideal liquid which could dissolve maximum amount of oxygen and carbon di-oxide, has minimum metabolism in the body, protect lungs against ventilator-associated injury and can be used as a vehicle to administer drugs in the lungs. Perflubron has emerged as a liquid which could provide a solution to most of above requirements. Liquid ventilation with perflubron has been used by many centres for treatment of ARDS in adults and hyaline membrane disease in premature neonates, with encouraging results. This article discusses the review of available literature on the subject.

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