Stability of pulmonary artery pressure during emboli-induced pulmonary edema in dogs

¹ Cardiovascular Institute, Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois

Changes in some facets of cardiovascular hemodynamics occurring after acute unilateral pulmonary starch embolization were studied in the anesthetized closed-chest dog. While bilateral pulmonary edema and reduced cardiac output occurred in starch-embolized dogs, these phenomena were not seen in control animals. Pulmonary arterial pressure changes were not significant during the present experiments, but the consistent rise in pulmonary vascular resistance after embolization indicates that the latter may be a better index of pulmonary vascular effects of emboli than are pressure changes. The fall in cardiac output was of sufficient magnitude to more completely neutralize the pulmonary artery pressure rise usually expected with increased pulmonary vascular resistance following pulmonary embolization.

Key Words: stable pulmonary artery pressure and lung edema • pulmonary hemodynamics in experimental lung edema • embolic lung edema and pulmonary hemodynamics • pulmonary artery pressure in embolic lung edema • pulmonary edema and arterial pressure • lung arterial pressure and edema • lung hemodynamics and edema • hemodynamics and edema of lungs

Submitted on November 16, 1964