Effect of heart disease on regional lung function
Yernault, J.C.; Vandevivere, J.
Bulletin Europeen de Physiopathologie Respiratoire 16(3): 411-420
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0395-3890 PMID: 7397444 Document Number: 164261
Regional lung function was studied with 133Xe in 25 adult patients with different types of heart disease. In cases of mitral and aortic valve disease perfusion and ventilation tend to be shifted from the lung bases towards the apices, more markedly so when the pulmonary wedge pressure is elevated. The primum movens of these changes seems to be accumulation of extravascular lung water in the bases, the anatomical lesions of the vessels playing a complementary role. In cases of congenital heart disease the pulmonary artery pressure level also influences regional perfusion; ventilation seems little affected. Children (9) with complex congenital heart malformations were also studied with 81mKr ventilation lung scan and classical perfusion scintigraphy. Whereas the former is usually normal, localized perfusion defects were found in each case, some of them probably being secondary to palliative surgical procedures.