Journal of investigative surgery : the official journal of the Academy of Surgical Research
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The assessment of pulmonary injury in experimental and clinical situations remains a challenge. A method of quantifying pulmonary vascular aberrations in animal models and human clinical situations is described. A multiple-indicator dilution technique is employed to assess changes in lung capillary permeability--surface area product, extravascular lung water, and cardiac output. ⋯ Normal reference curves are constructed for all subject groups. Significant changes occurred in capillary-permeability surface area product and extravascular lung water in various experimental models producing injury, in the patient population manifesting adult respiratory distress syndrome, and in those patients who have received cardiopulmonary transplants. The multiple-indicator dilution technique represents a sensitive tool for evaluating pulmonary vascular changes.