Shock Lung: A Disorder of the Central Nervous System?

Abstract

Animal studies are described that have demonstrated a centroneurogenic rather than hemodynamic etiology for this syndrome. In the presence of profound cerebral hypoxemia, an inappropriate signal from the brain heightens resistance in the pulmonary venule, producing a tourniquet action that leads to congestion, hemorrhage, and atelectasis. Denervating the lung is protective, a finding that suggests new avenues to treatment.