Oxygen consumption in the lungs of dogs with a closed thoracic injury

The experiments on dogs have demonstrated that lung contusion and injury of the rib cage cause the increase in overall oxygen consumption and lung oxygen consumption within the first hours after trauma. During the next week in dogs with contusion lung gradual recovery of the initial levels is observed. In convalescents with rib cage injury the indices in this period remain increased, reaching maximal level in animals with fatal outcome several hours before death. The authors believe that the early posttraumatic period in closed chest trauma is characterized by the increase in the lung oxygen consumption.