Effects of acute atelectasis on lobar blood flow
Domingo M. Aviado 1
1 Laboratory of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In anesthetized dogs with open chest, atelectasis of the left lower lobe is followed immediately by a reduction in vascular resistance and subsequently by a progressive increase. The latter is related to the exposure of the pulmonary capillaries and veins to an increased content of carbon dioxide in the blood. This local action reduces blood flow by about 15% and cannot account for the greater reduction in flow during chronic atelectasis. It is suggested that chronic atelectasis is accompanied by organic changes that cannot be explored by acute experiments.
Submitted on July 6, 1959
