Alveolar and Airway Components of the Tidal Volume in Mechanically Ventilated Dogs: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Tidal volume (VT) during mechanical ventilation in dogs varies considerably between individuals, but the contributions of airway dead space (VDaw) and alveolar tidal volume (VTalv) to this variability remain nuclear. VTalv was the main determinant of VT variability among anesthetized dogs, and the brachycephalic breeds studied exhibited smaller VDaw but similar VTalv compared with non-brachycephalic breeds. These findings highlight the importance of considering VTalv and breed-specificairway anatomy when individualizing ventilatory settings.