Mechanical factors and the regulation of perfusion through atelectatic lung in pigs

The role of mechanical interdependence in the perfusion of atelectatic lung was studied in two ways: a) regional hemodynamics were compared before (control) and after the development of lobar and sublobar atelectasis, and b) the effect of thoracotomy on regional hemodynamics was assessed. With lobar atelectasis mean lobar blood flow and vascular conductance decreased to 60% of control. Sublobar atelectasis caused mean sublobar blood flow and vascular conductance to decrease to 6% of control. Opening the chest after production of lobar atelectasis caused blood flow to fall to 50% of control. When sublobar atelectasis was produced in the open chest, sublobar blood flow decreased to 25% of control measurements made prior to thoracotomy. We conclude that with a closed chest, sublobar vascular distortion mediated by mechanical interdependence may be an important mechanism responsible for the differences in hemodynamic responses to atelectasis between lobes and sublobar regions.