Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 53, Issue 1 9-15, Copyright © 1982 by American Physiological Society
Effect of different levels of positive end-expiratory pressure on lung water content
J. A. Russell, J. Hoeffel and J. F. Murray
To compare the effects of 2-, 5-, and 10-cmH2O positive end-expiratory
pressure (PEEP) on pulmonary extravascular water volume (PEWV), pulmonary
blood volume (PBV), pulmonary dry weight (PDW), and distensibility, we
separately ventilated perfused dogs' lungs in situ and produced pulmonary
edema with oleic acid (0.06 ml/kg). Three groups were studied: I, PEEP, 5
cmH2O in both lung; II, PEEP, 2 cmH2O in one lung and 10 cmH2O in the
other; and III, PEEP, same as II, but the chest was rotated to compensate
for differences in heights. The PEWV and distensibility were less (P less
than 0.05) in lungs exposed to 10-cmH2O than to either 2- or 5-cmH2O PEEP.
After chest rotation, the difference between 10- and 2-cmH2O PEEP on PEWV
was eliminated but that on distensibility was not. We conclude that
10-cmH2O PEEP 1) decreased water content because of lung volume-induced
effects on intravascular hydrostatic pressure and 2) improved
distensibility by recruitment of alveoli, irrespective of PEWV.
