INTRAVASCULAR PLATELET-AGGREGATION AND ACUTE RESPIRATORY INSUFFICIENCY

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 4  (3) , 279-290
Abstract
Respiratory effects of long-lasting episodes of intravascular platelet aggregation were studied in cats. Animals in 1 group had the chest opened and were given mechanical ventilation with a constant tidal volume. Animals of another group were breathing spontaneously. Platelet aggregation was induced by i.v. infusion (for 1 h) of a suspension of collagen fibrils. Such infusions caused acute respiratory distress in both groups. Severe arterial hypoxemia, rapid breathing and constriction of airways and lung vessels occurred. Most of these changes were reversed within 2 h after collagen infusion ended. Deep lung inflations markedly improved lung function. An acute, but reversible, pulmonary insufficiency might be caused by pulmonary microembolization due to intravascular platelet aggregation. The arterial hypoxemia is suggested to be caused by disturbances in the ventilation-perfusion ratio secondary to airway constriction and closure. Besides platelet aggregation, some additional factors are apparently necessary for irreversible or progressive respiratory insufficiency to develop.

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