Absorption and Diuretic Effects of Nebulized Ethanol in Dogs

(1) Dogs anesthetized with nitrous oxide were given positive pressure respiration and nebulized ethanol for 30 min in a manner similar to that used in treating human subjects for acute pulmonary edema. A control group was given the same treatment without the ethanol. Blood and urine samples were collected during this 30-min period and for 2 hr afterward while the animals were maintained under anesthesia and artificial respiration. (2) Blood alcohol levels reached an average of 59 mg/100 ml in 30 min and diminished to 17 mg/100 ml at the end of the 1 hr postnebulization period. It is considered that these concentrations are high enough to have important systemic effects on sedation but probably have little hemodynamic effect. (3) The urine of the dogs breathing ethanol vapor showed a significant decrease in osmolal-ity in contrast to the increased osmolality of the urine of the control dogs. The fact that they did not develop a positive clearance of free water is attributed to the antidiuretic effects of positive pressure respiration and the anesthesia.