Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 62, Issue 6 2187-2192, Copyright © 1987 by American Physiological Society
Does indomethacin affect shunt and its response to PEEP in oleic acid pulmonary edema?
J. Ali and K. Duke
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.
