Pulmonary Intravascular and Extravascular Fluid Volumes in Exercising Cardiac Patients

Pulmonary extravascular (PEW) and intravascular (PBV) fluid volumes were measured during cardiac catheterization by a multiple indicator-dilution technique in 21 cardiac patients at rest and during exercise.Increased PEW at rest was clearly related to increased left atrial and pulmonary artery pressures but not to blood flow or pulmonary vascular resistance.Submaximal supine exercise produced increased intracardiac pressures and flow, with PEW and PBV significantly increased in most cases and stable in a few. Transudation at higher pulmonary capillary pressures and increased capillary recruitment were proposed to explain the increases in PEW during this short-term stress.wo patients developed overt pulmonary edema with rales during exercise. These individuals are discussed separately.