The Research and Development of an Equine Endotracheal Tube Y-piece Positive End-Expiratory (EETYPEEP) Valve

Butler, Elizabeth A.

Student Work

The Research and Development of an Equine Endotracheal Tube Y-piece Positive End-Expiratory (EETYPEEP) Valve

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Compression atelectasis is a universal problem in recumbent anesthetized horses due to the weight of the abdominal contents against the diaphragm as well as the positioning of the legs when the animal is hoisted unto the surgical table. Reduced oxygenation occurs because the collapsed alveoli cannot participate in gas exchange, resulting in ventilation-perfusion mismatch. There are no widely accepted methods or devices to prevent these adverse events in equine medicine, although various mechanical ventilation techniques (e.g. alveolar recruitment maneuvers) are employed when hypoxia is evident during anesthesia. Unfortunately, these methods often have unpredictable and deleterious cardiovascular effects and can cause barotrauma to the lung tissue. Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), defined as the application of positive pressure at the end of expiration to maintain functional residual capacity, has been long identified as an effective means to prevent alveolar collapse and improve gas exchange. This MQP is the beginning of the development of a novel PEEP device for horses for the prevention of atelectasis to be used while the animal is being hoisted. This MQP report outlines this process and result, as well as the hopes for the future of this project.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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