Measurement of diaphragmatic blood flow and oxygen consumption in the dog by the Kety Schmidt technique

Abstract

To assess energy expenditure of the diaphragm directly, a method was devised for percutaneous catheterization of the left inferior phrenic vein in dogs. Necropsy studies, including retrograde injection of india ink and measurement of radioactivity in diaphragmatic muscle strips, suggested that the territory drained by the inferior phrenic vein was uniformly perfused, and that there were no major anastomoses between this bed and adjacent ones. Diaphragmatic blood flow (Q di) was calculated from the integrated diaphragmatic arteriovenous difference of 85Kr by the Kety Schmidt technique. Diaphragmatic oxygen consumption (VO2 di) was determined as the product of Q di and the diaphragmatic arteriovenous oxygen content difference [(A-V) O2 di]. When lightly anesthetized dogs breathed quietly, Q di was 22±SD 6 ml/min/100 g, (A-V) O2 di was 6.1±SD 2.5 ml/100 ml and VO2 di averaged 1.2±SD 0.3 ml/min/100 g. This represented 1.0±SD 0.2% of total body oxygen consumption. VO2 di remained relatively constant during quiet breathing, whereas Q di varied directly with cardiac output and reciprocally with (A-V) O2 di. The oxygen consumption of the noncontracting diaphragm was 60±SD 20% of the level measured during quiet breathing. The energy expended by the diaphragm to support simple hyperventilation was small. A 100% increase in minute ventilation, induced by inhalation of 5% CO2 in 21% or 14% O2, increased Q di 13%, (A-V) O2 di 19% and VO2 di 40%. The diaphragm consumed 0.13±SD 0.09 ml O2 for each additional liter of ventilation. In 4 dogs, pneumonia appeared to increase VO2 both by increasing minute ventilation and by increasing the energy cost per liter of ventilation.