Hyperoxic ventilation improves survival in pigs during endotoxaemia at the critical hemoglobin concentration.

This experimental study evaluated the effects of hyperoxic ventilation (FiO2 1.0) on survival in anesthetized and profoundly anemic pigs submitted to endotoxemia. The authors observed that hyperoxic ventilation was associated with an increase in short-term (6 hours) survival, that might be attributed to the benefical effects of plasma-dissolved oxygen on tissue oxygenation. Although interesting from a pathophysiological point of view, these results cannot be extrapolated to daily clinical practice. Further studies are required to confirm the possible benefical effect of hyperoxic ventilation in septic anemic patients.

– Philippe Van der Linden