Experimental neurogenic pulmonary edema in cats

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Abstract
Hemorrhagic pulmonary edema was produced consistently in 19 of 20 anesthetized, paralyzed, ventilated cats when intracranial pressure (ICP) was raised for 30 min by intraventricular infusion of mock CSF to 150 mm Hg in 14, or 200 mm Hg in 6. Under identical conditions, except that ICP was raised to only 100 mm Hg, 3 of 7 animals did not develop hemorrhagic edema of the lungs and the remaining 4 had spotty hemorrhage. Thirteen control animals with normal ICP had normal lungs. Gravimetric lung water analysis by Pearce''s method confirmed gross and microscopic appearance of hemorrhagic pulmonary edema. Extravascular lung water (P < 0.05) and lung blood (P < 0.05) were significantly greater than control values when ICP was raised to or exceeded 150 mm Hg. Despite hemorrhagic edema, pulmonary gas exchange (O2, CO2) remained unaffected. This animal model allows quantitative measurement of neurogenically-mediated hemorrhagic edema of the lungs before gas exchange is impaired. The model may facilitate clarification of the pathogenesis of neurogenic pulmonary edema and, consequently, refine evaluation of therapy.