EFFECT OF HYPERTONIC SALINE ON PULMONARY CIRCULATION

Authors' Synopsis: The pulmonary hypertensive response to hypertonic saline injected into the pulmonary artery was studied in dogs under controlled circulatory conditions. A rapid injection of 20 ml. 14·4% NaCl solution caused a transient mechanical obstruction of the pulmonary circulation. Pulmonary vasoconstriction mediated by either chemical or reflex changes was not apparent. The whole response could be explained by a reversible aggregation of red blood cells.