Correlation between arterial oxygen and carbon dioxide levels and response to almitrine bismesylate in normal dogs

ABSTRACT

The objectives of this study were 1) to test the action of small doses of almitrine bismesylate (0.004 mg/Kg body weight/min) on the arterial blood gases and on pulmonary and systemic circulation during hypoventilation under controlled mechanical ventilation; and 2) to investigate possible correlations between arterial blood. O2 and CO3 levels and the response to the drug. Twenty one dogs divided into two groups were studied under controlled ventilation in a double-blind fashion hypoventilation + placebo (HP) (seven dogs); hypoventilation + almitrine (HA) (fourteen dogs). The results showed no significant variations of the gas ex-change and hemodynamic varibles in the HP group. In the HP group, during almitrine bismesylate infusion, despite the lack of variation in the pulmonary ventilation, the PaO2 increased from 46.1 torr to 51.7 torr, the PaCO2 decreased from 61.9 torr to 57.7 torr. There were no significant variations of hemodynamic variables in the HA group. Thus we conclude that the drug improved arterial blood gases (PaO2 increased) with small increase in alveolar ventilation (PaCO2 decreased) despite the lack of changes in pulmonary ventilation, and that the drug has action on the arterial PO2 potentiated by hypoxemia and hypercapnia