Comparison of two different methods for physiologic dead space measurements in ventilated dogs in a clinical setting

Objective To compare physiologic dead space (V(D)) and physiologic dead space to tidal volume (V(T)) ratio (V(D)/V(T)) obtained by an automated single breath test for carbon dioxide (CO(2)) (method SBT) and a manual calculation (method MC) in ventilated healthy dogs. Study design Prospective clinical study. Animals Twenty client-owned dogs, ASA I and II undergoing anaesthesia for clinical purposes. Methods Following pre-medication, induction of anaesthesia, and intubation of the trachea, intermittent positive pressure ventilation was commenced. Mixed expired CO(2) partial pressure (PeCO(2)) was measured by two methods: method MC by analysis, using an infrared capnograph, of the expired gas collected in a mixing box and method SBT which calculated it automatically by a device consisting of a mainstream capnograph and a pneumotachograph. At four time points arterial partial pressure of CO(2) (PaCO(2)) was measured. Physiologic dead space variables (V(D) and V(D)/V(T)) were calculated manually (method MC) or automatically (method SBT) using the Bohr-Enghoff equation. Method MC and SBT were compared using Bland-Altman plots and linear regression. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to measure consistency of each method. Results Four measurement pairs were obtained in all 20 dogs for method SBT and MC. The bias was -1.15 mmHg, 7.97 mL and 0.02 for PeCO(2), V(D) and V(D)/V(T), respectively. Linear regression analysis revealed a correlation coefficient (r2) of 0.79, 0.94, and 0.83 for PeCO(2), V(D) and V(D)/V(T), respectively. The ICC revealed an excellent consistency for both methods. Conclusions The single breath test (SBT) can be used for clinical evaluation of V(D) and V(D)/V(T) in anaesthetized ventilated dogs. Clinical relevance Through measuring V(D) and V(D)/V(T) important information about lung ventilation can be obtained and the SBT is an easy method to use for this purpose.