Related Experiment Videos
Closing volumes with variations in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure
The American Review of Respiratory Disease
|May 1, 1981
Summary
Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure elevation, a sign of early pulmonary edema, was linked to increased closing volumes in dogs. This suggests closing volume may indicate the onset of pulmonary edema.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Respiratory Physiology
Background:
- Increased closing volumes are observed in patients with suspected early pulmonary edema.
- The direct relationship between pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and closing volume is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the relationship between PCWP and closing volume.
- To assess the utility of closing volume as an early indicator of pulmonary edema.
Main Methods:
- Closing volume was measured in canine subjects.
- Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was sequentially increased using a left atrial balloon.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant increase in closing volume was observed (p < 0.01).
- This increase occurred at a PCWP of 25 mm Hg, a pressure at which pulmonary edema is theoretically expected to commence.
Conclusions:
- A correlation exists between elevated PCWP and increased closing volume.
- Closing volume may serve as a potential non-invasive marker for the early detection of pulmonary edema.