A subacute hypoxic model using a pig.

Purpose: A large animal model of hypoxia is necessary to develop a new therapeutic method for respiratory failure.

Methods: The experiments were performed on six pigs weighing from 15 to 19 kg. Under general anesthesia the left chest was opened and the left main bronchus was closed by a stapler. A Swan-Ganz catheter was inserted through the right jugular vein. The right carotid artery was cannulated and the mean arterial blood pressure was monitored, and arterial blood samples were drawn every 24 h until 96 h after the operation. The blood samples were submitted for a blood gas analysis. All data were expressed as the mean +/- standard deviation of the mean.

Results: The partial pressure of the oxygen of the arterial blood at baseline (104.8 +/- 24.3 mmHg) significantly decreased at 24 h after closure of the bronchus (76.7 +/- 9.9 mmHg, P < 0.001) and thereafter remained at the same level for 4 days.

Conclusion: This hypoxic model using a pig was found to be very simple, effective, and reproducible. This model can be used for a variety of experiments to evaluate new therapeutic modalities for respiratory failure.