Does indomethacin affect shunt and its response to PEEP in oleic acid pulmonary edema?

We assessed hemodynamics, lobar perfusion, and shunts at base line 1.5 h after unilobar oleic acid edema, 15 min after indomethacin (10 mg/kg iv), and 15 min after positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) (10 cm) in 10 dogs. In 10 additional dogs (control) the same measurements were made but no indomethacin was administered. Shunts of the edematous lobe were: 10.6 +/- 6.3, 54.1 +/- 22.8, 30.8 +/- 16.6, and 12.4 +/- 6.3% for dogs administered indomethacin and 10.9 +/- 4.2, 53.8 +/- 13.1, 72.3 +/- 14.6, and 11.5 +/- 4.1% for the controls. Perfusions (% cardiac output) to the edematous lobe were 27.6 +/- 3.6, 14.6 +/- 2.0, 9.9 +/- 1.5, and 27.9 +/- 2.9% in the dogs administered indomethacin and 27.3 +/- 3.1, 14.0 +/- 1.7, 13.2 +/- 1.3, and 26.9 +/- 2.8% in controls. The decrease in lobar perfusion was similar before indomethacin with a further decrease in lobar perfusion and an increase in lobar vascular resistance 15 min after indomethacin. The increase in vascular resistance of the edematous lobe was three times that of nonedematous lobes after indomethacin (149.6 +/- 76% vs. 58.0 +/- 43%). Indomethacin, therefore, decreases shunt possibly by enhancing alveolar hypoxic vasoconstriction and does not block the improvement in shunt with PEEP.