Effect of hematocrit on vascular pressure profile in dog lungs.

We studied the effect of blood hematocrit (Hct) on the longitudinal distribution of pulmonary vascular pressure profile in an in situ isolated left lower lobe preparation of dog lung using the arterial and venous occlusion technique. The total arteriovenous pressure drop (delta PT) across the lobe was partitioned into pressure drops across an arterial (delta Pa), a venous (delta Pv), and a middle segment (delta Pm). Three levels of Hct were studied: low (18 +/- 5%), normal (41 +/- 4%), and high (66 +/- 5%). Arterial and venous occlusions were performed under constant-flow or constant-pressure perfusion. When flow was maintained constant, the increase in delta PT between low and normal Hct was due to increases in delta Pa, delta Pm, and delta Pv; however, between normal and high Hct, the increase in delta PT was primarily due to an increase in delta Pm. When delta PT was kept constant by adjusting flow, changes in delta Pa and delta Pv were in the same direction as changes in blood flow rate but in opposite direction to changes in Hct. In contrast, changes in delta Pm were in the same direction as changes in Hct. The results showed that the vascular resistance of the middle segment ranged from 7% of total pulmonary vascular resistance at low Hct to 53% at high Hct, suggesting that the vessels within this segment offer the greatest impairment to the transit of blood cells.