Pulmonary Vascular

Question 1

Briefly describe the pulmonary circulation.

Answer 1

-dual supply (pulmonary arteries & bronchial arteries)
-Low pressure system
#thin walled
vessels
#low
incidence of
atherosclerosis
-Pulmonary artery receives entire cardiac output

Question 2

What is pulmonary oedema?

Answer 2

Accumulation of fluid in the lung
    Either in the 
         1)Interstitium
    or 2)Alveolar 
            Spaces

Question 3

What are the causes of pulmonary oedema?

Answer 3

1) Haemodynamic
- increased hydrostatic pressure
- most common cause
2) Cellular injury
- alveolar lining cells
- alveolar endothelium
- Localised (pneumonia) or generalised (ARDS)

Question 4

What does ARDS stand for?

Answer 4

Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Question 5

What is ARDS also known as?

Answer 5

DADS- Diffuse Alveolar Damage Syndrome and Shock Lung

Question 6

What can cause ARDS?

Answer 6

Sepsis
Diffuse infection (virus, mycoplasma)
Severe Trauma
Oxygen

Question 7

How does ARDS develop?

Answer 7

1. Injury
2. Infiltration of Inflammatory Cells
3. Cytokines
4. Oxygen Free Radicals
5. Injury to Cell Membranes
   OR
   1: Fibrinous exudate lining alveolar walls (hyaline membranes)
   2: Cellular regeneration
   3: Inflammation
   ^this second way is more common in paediatrics^