Haemodynamics and pulmonary wedge angiography findings in chronic bronchopulmonary disease.

Pulmonary wedge angiograms were compared with haemodynamic measurements at rest and during light exercise in 47 patients with chronic bronchopulmonary disease. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the angiograms. In group I (26 patients) less than 50% of the angiograms were abnormal, whilst in group II (21 patients) more than 50% of angiograms were abnormal. Pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance were lower in group I than in group II and these differences became more marked during exercise. The pulmonary wedge pressure increased significantly on exercise in group II. Similarly, driving pressure in relation to cardiac output increased more from rest to exercise in group II than in group I. We conclude that wedge angiograms are one way to estimate the reduction in the pulmonary vascular bed.