Pulmonary blood flow distribution in anesthetized ponies.

Results of recent investigations in humans and dogs indicate that gravity-independent factors may be important in determining the distribution of pulmonary blood flow. To further evaluate the role of gravity-independent factors, pulmonary blood flow distribution was examined using 15-microns radionuclide-labeled microspheres in five prone ponies over 5 h of pentobarbital sodium anesthesia. The ponies were killed, and the lungs were excised and dried by air inflation (pressure 45 cmH2O). The dry lungs were cut into transverse slices 1-2 cm thick along the dorsal-ventral axis, parallel to gravity. Radioactivity of pieces cut from alternate slices was measured with a gamma well counter. The main finding was a preferential distribution of pulmonary blood flow to dorsal-caudal regions and higher flow in the center of each lung slice when compared with the slice periphery. Flow was lowest in cranial and ventral areas. Differences of +/- 2 SD were observed between core and peripheral blood flow. No medial-lateral differences were found. Pulmonary blood flow distribution did not change over 5 h of anesthesia, and the basic flow pattern was not different in the left vs. right lung. These results suggest that in the intact prone mechanically ventilated pony (inspired O2 fraction greater than or equal to 0.95) factors other than gravity are primary determinants of pulmonary blood flow.