Oxygen Toxicity in Man

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Abstract
To investigate possible pulmonary oxygen toxicity in man, 10 patients who had suffered irreversible brain damage received ventilation with air (five patients) or pure oxygen (five patients) until death. Measurements of arterial-blood gases, cardiac output, intrapulmonary shunt, ratio of dead space to tidal volume and lung-thorax compliance were made periodically. At autopsy, gross condition and total weight of the lungs were noted. The oxygen group demonstrated significantly greater impairment of lung function than the air group. The most sensitive indicator of impaired lung function was a decrease in arterial oxygen tension during breathing of pure oxygen. After 30 hours' ventilation this value declined more sharply in the oxygen group than the air group. After 50 hours it averaged above 400 torr in the air group but only 120 torr in the oxygen group. Intrapulmonary shunt and ratio of dead space to tidal volume also became significantly greater in the oxygen group. Radiographic changes and total lung weight supported these physiologic findings. Microscopical examination of lung tissue failed to reveal noteworthy differences between the two groups.

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