perfluorocarbon liquid

Perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) refers to a class of synthetic, inert liquids composed solely of carbon and fluorine atoms. These compounds are characterized by high specific gravity, low viscosity, optical clarity, immiscibility with water and blood, and an exceptional ability to dissolve gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. In medicine, PFCLs are primarily used intraoperatively in vitreoretinal surgery to stabilize the retina during procedures for retinal detachment (especially those complicated by giant retinal tears), proliferative vitreoretinopathy, or ocular trauma. They serve as temporary tamponades to flatten the retina and facilitate surgical manipulation. Beyond ophthalmology, perfluorocarbons have been investigated as artificial blood substitutes due to their oxygen-carrying capacity; they have also been explored for use in partial or total liquid ventilation (notably in neonates with respiratory distress), drug delivery vehicles for pulmonary administration, ultrasound contrast agents, wound healing aids, islet preservation solutions for transplantation procedures, lung lavage fluids in severe pulmonary disease management, adjuncts in decompression sickness treatment for divers by enhancing gas exchange and bubble resolution in tissues; some formulations like Perftoran have regulatory approval outside the US as anti-ischemic/antihypoxant agents[2][3][4][5][6][7][8].

Brand names

PerftoranPerfluorane

Other names

perfluorocarbonPFCLPFC