BackgroundLung failure after acute lung injury remains a challenge in different clinical settings. Various interventions for restoration of gas exchange have been investigated. Recruitment of collapsed alveoli by positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) titration and optimization of ventilation-perfusion ratio by prone positioning have been extensively described in animal and clinical trials. This animal study was conducted to investigate the effects of PEEP and positioning by means of advanced respiratory monitoring including gas exchange, respiratory mechanics, volumetric capnography and electrical impedance tomography.MethodsAfter induction of acute lung injury by oleic acid and lung lavage, 12 domestic pigs were studied in randomly assigned supine or prone position during a PEEP titration trial with maximal PEEP of 30 mbar.ResultsInduction of lung injury resulted in significant deterioration of oxygenation [partial pressure of arterial oxygen/inspiratory fraction of oxygen (PaO2/FiO2): p = 0.002] and ventilation [partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2): p = 0.002] and elevated alveolar dead-space ratios (Valv/Vte: p = 0.003) in both groups. Differences in the prone and the supine group were significant for PaCO2 at incremental PEEP 10 and 20 and at decremental PEEP 20 (20d) and 10 (10d), for PaO2/FiO2 at PEEP 10 and 10d and for alveolar dead space at PEEP 10d. Electrical impedance tomography revealed homogenous ventilation distribution in prone position during PEEP 20, 30 and 20d.ConclusionsProne position leads to improved oxygenation and ventilation parameters in a lung injury model. Respiratory monitoring with measurement of alveolar dead space and electrical impedance tomography may visualize optimized ventilation in a PEEP titration trial.

Background: Paclitaxel is a member of the taxane family used for cancer therapy. Ovarian cancer is treated with Paclitaxel in first- and in second- line therapy. Cystoid macular edema without fluorescein leakage is a rare side effect of Paclitaxel treatment. Case presentation: We report the case of a 59-year-old female with ovarian cancer treated with paclitaxel. The patient received 21 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy and was presented with bilateral gradual vision loss due to macular edema after paclitaxel treatment. Optical coherence tomography revealed a bilateral cystoid macular edema. Fluorescence angiography demonstrated the unusual finding of non-leakage in the late phases of the angiogram. Microperimetric findings of both eyes confirmed the visual deficits. After cessation of the paclitaxel therapy, vision, OCT and microperimetric findings returned to normal. Also, color vision testing demonstrated no persistent defect after therapy cessation. Conclusion: Paclitaxel induced bilateral maculopathy is a rare side effect of chemotherapy. Cessation of the Paclitaxel drug therapy leads to complete functional and anatomical resolution of drug induced side effects. Vision, microperimetric defects, color perception as also anatomical defects detected by OCT change to normal after drug cessation. Taxane induced bilateral maculopathy is a rare disease which should be known by ophthalmologists as also oncologists. Paclitaxel therapy must be counseled to report any vision problems during the treatment period because early recognition of a rare non leaking CME can facilitate appropriate intervention to reverse visual compromise and minimize any potential long-term ophthalmologic sequelae.