Recent Studies on Perfluorochemical(PFC) Emulsion as an Oxygen Carrier in Japan

Abstract

In summary, we have discussed PFC emulsions as oxygen carriers, and concluded as follows: PFC emulsions which are clinically usable at present, such as Fluosol-DA, have some negative points. For instance, there is the requirement of relatively high FiO₂ level, short retention time in the blood stream, slow excretion rate from the organs, limited dosage for infusion, and so on. However, in the clinical cases of moderate acute anemia, the consumed oxygen in the PFC phase was nearly 30% of that in the hemoglobin phase in the administration of only 1,000 ml of Fluosol-DA. It strongly suggests that PFC emulsion can carry a considerable amount of oxygen to the tissues and play an important role in improving the tissue hypoxia.

Moreover, we surgeons wish to say that there is a great difference for the surgeons' mental state during a surgical operation between the cases where no blood transfusion is allowed for a religious or other reason, and the cases where we may use Fluosol-DA depending on the patients' condition. In the former cases, surgeons will be under stress such that he or she might cause the patients to lose blood excessively. On the other hand, when the surgeon has something in reserve, that is, when he or she may use Fluosol-DA if needed, a good result will usually be obtained in the operation, even without actually using Fluosol-DA. One might be led to say that a key point for the success of operations is the surgeons' mental condition, freedom from anxiety.

Lastly, based on the preceding results, we believe that clinical uses of PFC emulsions should be proposed and developed more widely, especially as the preparations are improved and/or new applications are matched to the characteristics of PFCs.