PULMONARY INSUFFICIENCY PRODUCED BY ISOPROTERENOL

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 143  (5) , 725-726
Abstract
Twelve healthy, anesthetized, mechanically ventilated dogs received an infusion of isoproterenol hydrochloride, 0.1 .mu.g/kg for 2 h. There was a rapid and statistically significant increase in the pulmonary shunt, cardiac output and mean pulmonary artery pressure; a significant decrease in the pulmonary vascular resistance, and no significant change in the pulmonary artery wedge pressure. These findings support those of previous studies which demonstrated that .beta.-adrenergic stimulation is important in the pathogenesis of pulmonary insufficiency. The shunt results from ventilation-perfusion inequalities produced by the increased pulmonary blood flow and pulmonary vasodilatation. Because of the production of pulmonary insufficiency, isoproterenol or other .beta.-adrenergic agonists should be used with caution in the critically ill, who often have or may develop the respiratory distress syndrome.

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