Pulmonary Hypertension in Severe Acute Respiratory Failure

Abstract
We repeatedly assessed pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics in 30 patients undergoing therapy for severe acute respiratory failure of diverse causes. Pulmonary-artery hypertension and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance were observed in all patients after correction of systemic hypoxemia. Increasing pulmonary blood flow by isoproterenol infusion or decreasing pulmonary blood flow by partial bypass of the right side of the heart minimally altered pulmonary-artery pressure.