Lipid infusion in critically ill patients. Acute effects on hemodynamics and pulmonary gas exchange.

Hemodynamics, pulmonary diffusing capacity (DLCO) blood gases, oxygen consumption (VO2) and carbon dioxide excretion (VCO2) were studied in healthy volunteers and ventilator-treated, critically ill patients before and during infusion of lipid emulsion for 4 h. Triglyceride levels rose from 1.0 mmole/L to 8.5 mmole/L in the volunteers and from 1.4 mmole/L to 6.3 mmole/L in the patients after h. No adverse effects on cardiovascular performance were observed. Increases in VO2, and VCO2 and cardiac output were found in both groups, while RQ remained constant. No changes in DLCO and blood gases occurred.