Segmental vascular pressures in lung embolism.

Average microvascular filtration pressure and vascular permeability measures were obtained in 100-microns glass bead-embolized dog lung lobes randomly assigned to groups in which isolated perfusion was designed to produce weight gain (edema groups) or no weight gain (isogravimetric groups). The solvent drag reflection coefficient (sigma), an index of vascular permeability, was obtained during edema formation, whereas isogravimetric capillary pressure was obtained during isogravimetry. Vascular permeability increased in response to embolism, because sigma was 0.53 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.80 +/- 0.05 (P < 0.005) in embolized and control lobes, respectively. Vascular occlusion methods indicated the greatest resistance increase in response to embolism in the vascular segment represented by Pao--Pdo (arterial occlusion pressure--double occlusion pressure). Because papaverine vasodilation reduced total vascular resistance (RT; P < 0.05) by decreasing Pao (P < 0.01) without altering Pdo, the RT increase in response to embolism was likely due to both vasoconstriction and obstruction. Because Pdo approximated capillary pressure at isogravimetry, Pdo appears to estimate average filtration pressure in both embolized (n = 6) and control lungs (n = 6). Arterial pressure was 56.2 +/- 13.6 vs. 17.6 +/- 1.5 cmH2O (P < 0.01) in embolized (n = 5) and control lobes (n = 6), respectively, whereas Pdo values of 16.1 +/- 1.5 vs. 12.4 +/- 0.8 (P < 0.05) suggested relatively little increase in filtration pressure in response to embolism. If the beads obstructed 100-microns vessels, the vascular segment represented by Pao--Pdo, the major site of vasoconstriction as well as mechanical obstruction, likely includes 100-microns arteries.