Abstract
Summary: A rebreating method was used to make 53 measurements of pulmonary diffusing capacity (DLco) and functional residual capacity (FRC) in 17 newborn lambs during the first 2 days of life. DLco, FRC, and DLco/FRC all increased in studies made at 24-48 hr of age compared to those at 2-4 hr of age: DLco 0.86 ± 0.18 to 1.52 ± 0.09 ml/min/torr; FRC 37 ± 10 to 60 ± 8 ml and DLco/FRC 2.52 ± 2.52 ± 0.75 to 2.89 ± 0.37 ml/min/torr/ml × 10-2. DLco measured using 0.005% CO in the test gas was not different than that measured using 0.5% CO.
Speculation: The increase in pulmonary diffusing capacity is in part due to an increase in lung volume, but the significant increase in DLco/FRC demonstrates that other factors such as a change in pulmonary capillary blood volume may also be important. We conclude that there is no evidence for a CO carrier in the early neonatal period in lambs.
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Bissonnette, J., Drummond, W., Wickham, W. et al. Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity in Lambs during the Early Neonatal Period. Pediatr Res 12, 983–986 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197810000-00007
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197810000-00007