Aspiration pneumonia: experimental evaluation of albumin and steroid therapy.

An experimental model using an ex vivo perfused ventilated canine pulmonary lobe was used to study aspiration pneumonia. After intrabronchial acid instillation, the lobe weight tripled, air way pressure and pulmonary artery pressure doubled, and intrapulmonary shunting increased from 5.5% to 53.4%. If large quantities of albumin were added to the lobe perfusate 5 minutes after intrabronchial acid instillation, weight gain, air way and pulmonary artery pressure, and intrapulmonary shunting were unchanged from control levels. If large quantities of steroid were added to the lobe perfusate 5 minutes after intrabronchial acid instillation, the lobe weight doubled but air way pressure and pulmonary artery pressure, and intrapulmonary shunting were not significantly different from control values. It is surmised that intrapulmonary acid aspiration causes an immediate and marked changed in pulmonary capillary permeability. Albumin administration by counteracting this permeability change, and steroid administration by modifying the permeability change, are both beneficial following acid aspiration.