Maurizio Cereda1,
Yi Xin2, Kiarash Emami2, Jessie Huang2,
Jennia Rajaei2, Harrilla Profka2, Biao Han2,
Puttisarn Mongkolwisetwara2, Stephen J. Kadlececk2,
Nicholas N. Kuzma2, Stephen B. Pickup2, Brian Kavanagh3,
Clifford Deutschman1, Rahim Rizi2
1Department
of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, PA, United States; 2Department of Radiology,
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; 3Departments
of Critical Care Medicine and Anesthesia, Hospital for Sick Children,
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Using hyperpolarized gas MRI, we provide evidence supporting the role of airspace recruitment, rather than expansion, in ventilated healthy rats without atelectasis. Our results showed that hysteresis was associated with a decrease in the size of ventilated airspaces. These results, obtained through imaging, are relevant because they contribute to the clarification of a controversial physiological mechanism. Furthermore, this study provides an additional rationale for investigating strategies that may minimize pulmonary stress.