Evaluation of Gas Exchange by the Measurement of Lung Diffusion for Carbon Monoxide During General Anaesthesia

Effects of General Anaesthesia and Invasive Mechanical Ventilation on Alveolo-capillary Membrane: Evaluation of Gas Exchange by the Measurement of Lung Diffusion for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO) and Plasma Dosage of Surfactant Protein-B (SPB).

Mechanical ventilation is a therapeutic method used in order to keep gas exchange adequate to cell metabolism in patients with acute respiratory failure. It is currently proved that, although on one hand the use of this method keeps gas exchange, on the other hand it promotes and supports pulmonary inflammatory processes (VILI). A recent study about the effect of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on DLCO (diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide) in patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation has proved that patients without any evident pulmonary disease (negative medical history, negative chest clinical examination, normal chest X-ray radiography and normal arterial oxygen tension [PaO2]) after 24 hours of invasive mechanical ventilation show a significant worsening of pulmonary gas exchange properties. The authors have supposed that this worsening may be caused by an early alteration of alveolar-capillary membrane caused by mechanical ventilation itself. This hypothesis finds support in some studies carried out on animal models which founds that mechanical ventilation, even when low tidal volumes (Vt) are set for a few hours, is able to induce lung injury (as shown by histologic findings). The most sensitive and specific tools the investigators can currently rely on for the study of alveolar-capillary membrane are the measurement of diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and the evaluation of plasmatic levels of pulmonary surfactant protein B (SPB). DLCO is a standard, widely diffused technique for the evaluation of functional alterations of alveolar-capillary membrane and it is currently available also for patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation. SBP is produced by type II pneumocytes in the alveoli. An increase of its plasmatic levels is correlated to a decay of pulmonary gas exchange; SPB thus can be considered an alveolar-capillary membrane anatomical damage marker.

The primary end-point of this study is to evaluate the changes of anatomical (SPB) and functional (DLCO) features of alveolar-capillary membrane between the spontaneous breathing and mechanical ventilation as well as the progressive changes affecting DLCO and SPB over time during general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation in patients with otherwise healthy lung undergoing elective surgery. This in order to check the timing of the observed worsening of alveolar-capillary membrane function, and to find out if the process is progressive in time.

The secondary end point is to check if the alterations of functional features of alveolar membrane (DLCO) are proportionate to the increase of alveolar injury marker (SPB), in order to understand if the worsening of alveolar-capillary membrane function is to be attributable to an anatomical damage or to a physiologic change of the ventilation-perfusion matching.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Acute Respiratory Failure; Lung Diffusion

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 20

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Italy
  • MB
    • Monza, MB, Italy
      • Recruiting
      • Ospedale San Gerardo
      • Contact: Roberto Fumagalli, MD; Phone Number: +390392339269; Email: roberto.fumagalli@unimib.it
      • Principal Investigator: Roberto Fumagalli, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients undergoing elective surgery lasting more than three hours, requiring general anaesthesia and invasive mechanical ventilation.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• over 18 years of age
• undergoing a non-thoracic, non-laparoscopic surgery, lasting more than three hours and requiring general anaesthesia and invasive mechanical ventilation

Exclusion Criteria:

• COPD 3 Gold stage or above
• ASA physical status classification system 4 or above
• heart failure NYHA 2 or above
• chronic kidney disease
• axillary temperature over 38 °C
• BMI over 30 kg/m^2
• pregnancy or breastfeeding

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: San Gerardo Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Roberto MD Fumagalli, Milano Bicocca University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2011
• Primary Completion: December 7, 2022
• Study Completion (Anticipated): October 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 31, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 3, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): January 4, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): August 29, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 28, 2012
• Last Verified: August 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: general anaesthesia; invasive mechanical ventilation; DLCO; SPB
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Insufficiency
• Other Study ID Numbers: ARHSG 10 2010 DLCO1

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No