Relation between respiratory function and pulmonary hemodynamics before and after intravenous administration of...

Static lung volumes, flow volume curve in air and in a helium-oxygen mixture, PaO2 and pulmonary vascular pressures were measured in 16 patients 2 weeks after uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction and repeated 2 h after furosemide 40 mg i.v. administration. The patients with wedge pressure (WP) greater than 18 mm Hg had significantly lower values of FEV1, FEV1/VC%, MEF40 and MEF 25 in comparison with the patients with WE less than 18 mm Hg. A negative correlation was found between both PAP and WP and MEF25 values (p less than 0.001). After furosemide respiratory function tests improved only in patients with a good hemodynamic response to the drug. PaO2 did not change significantly. Airflow response to helium seemed to be a useful test for determining the site of major bronchial compression.