Continuous assessment of inspiratory resistive work during different types of pulmonary oedema in isolated rat lungs

We recently demonstrated in isolated blood perfused rat lungs subjected to i.t. LPS-induced pulmonary oedema that the continuous measurement of inspiratory resistive work is a good indirect indicator of progressive lung oedema [1]. Here we extend these findings to two other types of pulmonary oedema: hydrostatic oedema induced by elevation of the left atrial pressure, and alveolar oedema (ALV) by infusing normal saline into the trachea at two different infusion rates (2 and 4 ml/hour for 120 min).

See Table 1. Our results indicate that the continuous measurement of inspiratory resistive work is a good indicator of both permeability and hydrostatic lung oedema, but not of pure alveolar oedema (absence of interstitial oedema).

Table 1 (abstract P161)