Partial liquid ventilation (PLV) involves filling the lungs with a
fluid. This fluid is
perfluorocarbon, also called Liquivent or Perflubron.
The liquid has some unique properties.
It has a very low surface tension, similar to surfactant, a
substance that is produced in your lungs and prevents the alveoli
from collapsing and sticking together during exhalation.
It also has a high density, oxygen readily diffuses through
it, and it may have some anti-inflammatory properties.
In PLV, the lungs are filled with the liquid, the patient is
then ventilated with a conventional ventilator using a protective
lung ventilation strategy.
This is called partial liquid ventilation.
The hope is that the liquid will help the transport of oxygen
to parts of the lung that are flooded and filled with debris, help
remove this debris and open up more alveoli improving lung function.
The study of PLV involves comparison to protocolized
ventilator strategy designed to minimize lung damage.
