EXPERIMENTAL PULMONARY AIR EMBOLISM IN DOGS

Abstract

Air infused into the jugular vein of dogs at a constant rate for 1 hr. produced transient hypotension, modest elevation of the systemic venous pressure, and a considerable fall in the arterial O2 tension. All of these measurements returned almost to normal on the termination of the infusion. A lethal rate of infusion, 0.69 ml of air per kg of body weight per minute, produced heart failure with a decided rise of systemic venous pressure and fall of blood pressure. Six and half minutes was the longest time that the characteristic murmur could be heard after the cessation of infusion of non-fatal doses of air.