Perivascular pressure measurements by wick-catheter technique in isolated dog lobes

Saline-filled wick catheters were inserted intraparenchymally in the loose connective tissue separating the bronchus and pulmonary artery of unperfused isolated dog lobes. Px, the difference between perivascular pressure and pleural surface pressure (which was atmospheric pressure), was measured by the wick for arterial pressures (Pa) of 10 and 25 cmH2O at lobe transpulmonary pressures (Ptp) of 25, 15, 10, 5, and 2 cmH2O during a deflation pressure-volume maneuver. The response time of Px to step changes in Pa was relatively short, a pressure plateau always occurring in less than 3 min. For Pa of 25 cmH2O, mean Px in five lobes was -2 cmH2O at Ptp of 2 cmH2O and decreased almost linearly to -9 cmH2O at Ptp of 25 cmH2O. Reducing Pa from 25 to 10 cmH2O resulted in a mean decrease in Px of 1 cmH2O at Ptp of 2 cmH2O and 2 cmH2O at Ptp of 25 cmH2O. These results are generally consistent with predictions from a continuum-mechanics analysis of pulmonary vascular interdependence and do not support the concept that perivascular interstitial fluid pressure is different from surface pressure.