Pulmonary oedema in isolated lung lobe after inhalation injury.

ABSTRACT

Pulmonary oedema was produced in isolated lung lobes with steam and provided direct continuous measurements of transudation as it occurred. Transvascular flux (Qf) and weight gain (Gw) of the lobe increased immediately and the transudation reached its peak within half an hour after inhalation injury. Studies of protein content, colloid osmotic pressure of bronchial exudate and water content of lung, reconfirmed the increase in pulmonary capillary permeability. Marked haemoconcentration was revealed. Plasma leaked 113 g (25 per cent), plasma protein leaked 1.96 g (9.7 per cent) during the experiment. Based on the measured arterial pressure (Pa), vein pressure (Pv), arterial occlusion (Pao), venous occlusion (Pvo), double occlusion (Pdo) and blood flow through the lobe (Qt), the total vascular (Rt), arterial (Ra), middle compartment (Rmid) and venous (Rv) resistances were calculated. All the resistances were increased and the Qt showed a decrease after inhalation injury.