Cardiorespiratory effects of changing inspiratory to expiratory ratio during high‐frequency oscillation in an animal model of respiratory failure

To examine the effects of varying inspiratory/expiratory ratio (I/E) on cardiorespiratory function during high‐frequency oscillation (HFO), 11 saline‐lavaged rabbits were ventilated at I/E = 1:2, 1:1.5, 1.5:1, and 2:1 in a paired comparison to a baseline of I/E = 1:1. HFO was delivered by a SensorMedics model 3100 oscillator at a frequency of 10 Hz. Pressure amplitude and proximal mean airway pressure (P P aw) were held constant as I/E was varied from baseline to the experimental I/E. During each paired observation, Pa   O   2, Pa   CO   2, cardiac output, blood pressure, and distal mean airway pressure (D P aw) were measured. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. We found that as I/E was increased or decreased from 1:1, no significant changes in Pa   O   2, Pa   CO   2, blood pressure, or cardiac output occurred. We conclude that in this model, varying I/E has no significant effect on oxygenation, ventilation, or cardiovascular function.