• M Colmenero, J M Pérez Villares, M A Fernández Sacristán, M Garcia Delgado, and E Fernández Mondéjar.
• Unidad de Medicina Intensiva, Servicio de Cuidados Crrticos y Urgencias, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain. macol@telefonica.net
• Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2005 Nov 1;49(10):1449-55.

BackgroundLung edema can be influenced by hemodynamic changes in pulmonary circulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in an experimental model of acute lung injury, the effect on extravascular lung water (EVLW) of an increase in pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) without changes in cardiac output and wedge pressure.MethodsLung edema was produced by an intravenous oleic acid infusion in mixed-breed pigs weighing 25-31 kg, which, after 20 min, were randomly assigned to a control group (100% FiO(2)) (n = 6) or a high Ppa group (21% FiO(2)) (n = 7). An increase in pulmonary artery pressure of at least 40% over baseline was produced in the high Ppa group by alveolar hypoxia. Hemodynamic, ventilatory and gas exchange parameters were collected at regular intervals. Pulmonary, wedge and capillary pressures were measured with a pulmonary artery catheter and the occlusion technique. EVLW was calculated gravimetrically.ResultsAt 240 min, both gravimetric-measured EVLW and mean pulmonary artery pressures were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in high Ppa animals vs. controls (12.06 +/- 4.21 vs. 7.98 +/- 2.46 ml/kg and 39.0 +/- 1.3 vs. 26.6 +/- 4.7 mmHg, respectively). Cardiac output (6.8 +/- 2.5 vs. 7.3 +/- 1.3) and pulmonary wedge pressures (9.2 +/- 1.7 vs. 9.4 +/- 2.8 mmHg) were similar. A difference was detected in pulmonary capillary pressures [17.0 +/- 3.3 (high Ppa) vs. 13.8 +/- 2.7 mmHg (controls)] but did not reach statistical significance.ConclusionsIn this model, an increase in pulmonary artery pressure by alveolar hypoxia produces an increase in extravascular lung water, probably related to changes in pulmonary capillary pressures.

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