Pulmonary capillary pressure in horses undergoing alteration of pleural pressure by imposition of various upper airway resistive loads

Abstract

Summary We hypothesised that changes in pleural pressure induced by resistive breathing would affect transmural pulmonary artery, pulmonary capillary, and pulmonary wedge pressures. Seven horses were assigned to exercise with each of 4 upper respiratory resistive loads in random order at intervals of at least 2 days: 1) control — no added resistive loads; 2) inspiratory resistive load (Iobst) — left laryngeal hemiplegia; 3) expiratory resistive load (Eobst) — one‐way valve in the right nostril; and 4) combined inspiratory and expiratory resistive loads (CIEobst) — left nostril occlusion. On each occasion, the horses performed an incremental exercise protocol consisting of exercise episodes of 3 min duration at 75, 90, and 100% of maximal heart rate (HRmax). Pulmonary artery and oesophageal pressures were recorded continuously. Subsequent analysis was carried out on the pulmonary arterial pressure signal with the oesophageal pressure signal subtracted, hence the pulmonary vascular pressures in this paper approximate transmural pressures. Pulmonary vascular pressures, heart rate, and arterial blood gas tensions were measured at each level of exercise. Pulmonary capillary and pulmonary wedge pressures were determined from the pulmonary artery waveform after dynamic occlusion of a branch of the pulmonary artery. During exercise, peak expiratory oesophageal pressure was more positive in horses with Eobst and CIEobst (adjusted means=43, and 39 mmHg, respectively) compared with control (adjusted mean=23 mmHg) (P = 0.0001). Peak inspiratory oesophageal pressure was more negative in horses at exercise with Iobst and CIEobst (adjusted means=‐42 and ‐39 mmHg, respectively) compared with control (adjusted mean=‐26 mmHg)(P = 0.0012). Eobst was associated with an increase in mean oesophageal pressure while Iobst was associated with a decrease in mean oesophageal pressure. There were significant increases in mean pulmonary artery pressure in horses with CIEobst (adjusted means = 82 mmHg) and in pulmonary wedge pressure in horses with CIEobst and Iobst (adjusted means=51, and 55 mmHg, respectively) when compared to control (73 and 42 mmHg, respectively) (P = 0.0001). Pulmonary capillary pressure was significantly increased in horses with CIEobst or Iobst (adjusted means=61 mmHg, 63 mmHg, respectively) when compared to control (adjusted mean=50 mmHg)(P = 0.0001). At maximal exercise intensity with inspiratory obstruction, the mean oesophageal (pleural) pressure was ‐17 mmHg while the mean pulmonary capillary pressure was 77 mmHg. The latter exceeds the reported 75 mmHg threshold for capillary failure in horses. We conclude that inspiratory resistive breathing can lead to a significant increase in transmural pulmonary capillary pressure which may contribute to loss of capillary integrity and rupture.

Effect of instillation into lung of autologous blood on pulmonary function and tracheobronchial wash cytology

“…The theory of the alveolo-arterial membrane rupture induced by an excessive transmural pressure (West et al 1993) is generally accepted by the scientific community (Slocombe 2001). This hypothesis seems to be confirmed by recent works showing that the use of nasal strip and/or frusemide may decrease the incidence of EIPH (Goetz et al 1999;Geor et al 2001;Kindig et al 2001) while inspiratory obstruction increases the transmural capillary pressure gradient (Ducharme et al 1999).…”

Técnica para avaliação da pressão arterial pulmonar de equinos durante o exercício progressivo em esteira rolante

“…Considerando as avaliações cardiovasculares, o exame da perfusão pulmonar pode indicar a presença de determinadas enfermidades ou a predisposição à ocorrência das mesmas (Ducharme et al 1999). A circulação pulmonar recebe todo o fluxo sanguíneo proveniente do ventrículo direito e perfunde os capilares alveolares, permitindo que a troca gasosa seja realizada.…”

“…Estudos avaliando a PAP durante o exercício tem sido realizados buscando informações sobre a etiologia e prevenção da hemorragia pulmonar induzida pelo exercício, já que a hipertensão capilar pulmonar parece predispor à ocorrência da enfermidade (Erickson et al 1990, Manohar et al 1993, Mills et al 1996, Ducharme et al 1999, Funkquist et al 2000, Magid et al 2000. A avaliação de PAP em testes ergométricos tem revelado ainda sinais de alterações hemodinâmicas em equinos apresentando insuficiência mitral (Gehlen et al 2004) e fibrilação atrial (Gehlen et al 2006).…”

Evaluation of Overground Endoscopy Findings in Sport and Pleasure Horses

“…Another study suggests that inspiratory obstruction in exercising horses causes an increase in transmural pulmonary capillary pressure gradient. This may contribute to loss of capillary integrity and lead to the rupture of the pulmonary capillaries [29].…”