British Journal of Anaesthesia, Vol 81, Issue 3 425-429, Copyright © 1998 by The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia
S. M. Walther, K. B. Domino and M. P. Hlastala
We used differential excretion of sulphur hexafluoride from the left and
right lung to measure blood flow diversion by hypoxic pulmonary
vasoconstriction (HPV) in the prone and supine positions in dogs (n = 9).
Gas exchange was assessed using the multiple inert gas elimination
technique. Blood flow diversion from the hypoxic (3% oxygen) left lung was
mean 70.7 (SD 11.2)% in the supine compared with 57.0 (12.1)% in the prone
position (P < 0.02). The supine position was associated with increased
perfusion to low VA/Q regions (P < 0.05). The increased flow diversion
with hypoxia in the supine position was associated with more ventilation to
high VA/Q regions (P < 0.05). We conclude that flow diversion by hypoxic
pulmonary vasoconstriction is greater in the supine position. This effect
could contribute to the variable response in gas exchange with positioning
in patients with ARDS.
LABORATORY INVESTIGATIONS
Effects of posture on blood flow diversion by hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in dogs
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Lasarettet, Norrkoping, Sweden; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, and Medicine, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, USA
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