Effects and distribution of acute fat embolism in spontaneously breathing dogs using radioactive carbon triolein.

The acute effects of a triolein infusion in dogs were secondary to the mechanical effects of this neutral fat which was distributed in the pulmonary and systemic vascular tree of all organs without inflammatory change. Hypoxia developed immediately and became progressively worse as the infusion was continued. Pulmonary hypertension developed during the fat infusion without pneumonia, congestive heart failure or pulmonary edema. There was a slow leak of 14C triolein into the systemic circulation rather than a rapid shower, and this radioactive fat was recirculated between the pulmonary and systemic vasculature. Seventy-six per cent of the 14C triolein was retained in the lungs. Terminally, the dogs had a respiratory arrest without cardiac decompensation, cardiac arrest or pulmonary edema; cerebral fat embolism in addition to severe hypoxia appears to be the cause.