[Experimental acute altitude pulmonary edema and mechanisms involved in its development]

Abstract

Experiments were made on animals to study altitude acute lung edema and the mechanism by which it develops. Subject to analysis were compensatory shifts in response to hypoxia on the part of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. A progressive increase in the blood lung volume, congestion in the pulmonary circulation and a rise in the load of the right heart were disclosed. It was ascertained that drastic decrease in arterial blood saturation with oxygen plays a provoking role in the development of altitude lung edema.