Oxygen Diffusion Velocity — A New Parameter of Early Diagnosis of Pulmonary Oedema

Abstract

Pulmonary oedema constitutes an important cause of respiratory failure, which is determined by numerous agents, among which are pulmonary venocapillary hypertension and blood oncotic pressure. This last factor is either an attenuating or an aggravating cause of capillary exudation, causing variation in alveolo-capillary pressor gradient. In this way, the usual hemodynamic parameters to diagnose left ventricular failure (mean arterial pressure and left atrial pressure, cardiac output, coronary flow, etc.) have not always demonstrated the establishment of pulmonary oedema, which is of great importance to the evolution and prognosis of the morbid condition.