PEEP only partly restores disturbed distribution of regional pulmonary blood flow in lung injury

Research was conducted to examine the influence of lung injury, positive end-expiratory pressure and norepinephrine on the heterogeneity of regional pulmonary blood flow. An eight-channel recorder was utilized to monitor heart rate, right and left ventricular pressures while regional perfusion was determined with the reference sample method. Results indicated that oleic acid and glass bead-induced lung injury leads to to an abnormal distribution of regional pulmonary blood flow.