The effects of xenon or nitrous oxide supplementation on systemic oxygenation and pulmonary perfusion during one-lung ventilation in pigs.

During experimental one-lung ventilation (OLV), the type of anesthesia may alter systemic hemodynamics, lung perfusion, and oxygenation. We studied whether xenon (Xe) or nitrous oxide (N(2)O) added to propofol anesthesia would affect oxygenation, lung perfusion, and systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics during OLV in a pig model. Nine pigs were anesthetized, tracheally intubated, and mechanically ventilated. After placement of arterial and pulmonary artery catheters, a left-sided double-lumen tube was placed via tracheotomy. IV anesthesia with propofol was supplemented in random order with N(2)O/O(2) 60:40 or Xe/O(2) 60:40 or N(2)/O(2) 60:40. All measurements were made after stabilization at each concentration. Differential lung perfusion was measured with colored microspheres. Oxygenation (Pao(2): 90 +/- 17, 95 +/- 20, and 94 +/- 20 mm Hg for N(2)/O(2), N(2)O/O(2), and Xe/O(2)) and left lung perfusion (16% +/- 5%, 14% +/- 6%, and 18.8% for N(2)/O(2), N(2)O/O(2), and Xe/O(2)) during OLV did not differ among the 3 groups. However, mean arterial blood pressure (78 +/- 25, 62 +/- 23, and 66 +/- 23 mm Hg for N(2)/O(2), N(2)O/O(2), and Xe/O(2)) and mixed venous saturation (55% +/- 12%, 48% +/- 12%, and 50% +/- 12% for N(2)/O(2), N(2)O/O(2), and Xe/O(2)) were reduced during N(2)O/O(2) as compared with the control group (N(2)/O(2)). Supplementation of IV anesthesia with Xe or N(2)O does not impair oxygenation nor alter lung perfusion during experimental OLV.