[Radiological lung changes in progressive pulmonary insufficiency (author's transl)].

Chest radiographs can reflect increasing pulmonary insufficiency of shock lung. In the early and intermediate stages, there is almost pure interstitial oedema which, in the later stages becomes alveolar-interstitial. In addition one may find evidence of broncho-pneumonia. Respiratory insufficiency is due to abnormalities of perfusion and distribution and is aggravated by disturbance of oxygen diffusion. The latter is due to an increase in the alveolo-capillary diffusion distance in the presence of interstitial oedema. It was not possible to demonstrate quantitatively significant precapillary shunts greater than 25 mu.