Whole Body Extracorporeal Low Flow Hyperthermia in a Canine Model

Abstract

Whole body hyperthermia (WBH) has not gained significant clinical acceptance, though extensive experimentation since the early 1980's has revealed its potential merits in the treatment of various cancers, and currently WBH is in clinical feasibility trials for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Using a new device and methodology, could canines serve as an appropriate test model for this device and methodology? Five dogs underwent one treatment each or the 42°C whole body hyperthermia using a low flow veno-venous approach. All animals were kept at the desired temperature for 90 minutes. There were no clinically significant acute or long term sequlae. Every animal was subjected to necropsy. Findings of this study showed that the canine was an adequate model to assess the initial safety of this new device.