Smoke inhalation increases bronchial blood flow (
Qbr) and produces
edema of the airway system. This study investigates whether the increased
Qbr seen 24 h after inhalation injury can be affected by
mechanical ventilation with PEEP (5, 10, 15 cm H2O). Sheep (n = 8) previously prepared with cardiopulmonary
catheters and ultrasonic transit time flow probes mounted around their bronchial arteries were insufflated with four sets of 12 breaths each of cotton
smoke. Different levels of PEEP were added to the
mechanical ventilation 24 h after injury; each PEEP level was applied for 45 min. There were significant increases in
Qbr and lung lymph flow (QL) associated with a marked decrease in bronchial vascular resistance (BVR) 24 h after injury. However, no change was observed in mean arterial pressure (MAP) or cardiac index (CI). There was a substantial reduction in PaO2/FIO2 (P/F), which indicated a deterioration in arterial oxygenation. The application of varying levels of PEEP decreased
Qbr (p less than .05) while BVR increased (p less than .05), but QL and P/F did not. CI and MAP were recorded. After removal of PEEP, none of the cardiopulmonary variables were significantly different from their postsmoke control values. These findings suggest that
mechanical ventilation with PEEP markedly decreases the
smoke-induced
hyperemia edema frequently seen after inhalation injury without any significant alterations in MAP or CI.