PERFLUOROCARBON ASSOCIATED GAS-EXCHANGE (PAGE) - GAS VENTILATION OF THE PERFLUOROCARBON FILLED LUNG

Background: Throughout most of the second half of this century, progress in respiratory life support was dominated by modernization of the mechanical ventilator. We have now entered an era in which the fundamental physiology of lung function can be manipulated to improve lung performance in hope of reducing morbidity and mortality and thereby decreasing the cast of intensive care. Main Findings: Despite its almost alien technology, perfluorocarbon tidal liquid breathing is an effective means to support respiration in normal and surfactant deficient lungs. A second, technique, perfluorocarbon associated gas exchange (PAGE), has recently been shown effective in normal lungs and in several animal models of lung disease. Both techniques appear to improve pulmonary function when pulmonary surface tension is elevated. Conclusions: PAGE improves lung function and poses opportunities to reduce pulmonary morbidity and diminish the cost of intensive care. The availability of bottled oxygen, and the development of positive pressure breathing devices revolutionized pulmonary medicine and ushered in the modern era of intensive care.