Abstract
The present paper deals with haemodynamics of cardiopulmonary circulation of TB cases examined by means of cardiac catheterization. The cases were classified into 3 groups according to the standards of the National TB Association, USA; minimal (G-1), moderately advanced (G-2), inexpansible lungs, complicated with artificial pneumothorax (G-3).
1) The results of haemodynamics in 3 normal individuals were the same to that of the previous authors.
2) Cardiopulmonary function of G-1 was normal. However, pulmonary arteriolar resistance was 118 dynes/sec/cm-5, in the average, which is slightly larger then 87 dynes/sec/cm-5 in case of normal. The increase may be explained by the increased tonus of pulmonary circuits in G-1.
3) In G-2, intracardiac blood pressure was generally within normal range, pulmonary arteriolar resistance was 132 dynes/sec/cm-5, in the average, arterial oxygen saturation was 93%, in the average, which is within normal range, pulmonary blood flow decreased slightly. These status indicate the well compensated cardiopulmonary function in G-2. The haemodynamics was correlated to the extent of foci and the disturbance of haemodynamics was related to the ventilatory insufficiency of the diseased lung.
4) In G-3, intracardiac pressure was generally within normal range. Pulmonary arteriolar resistance was in the average 132 dynes/sec/cm-5, which is larger than that of G-2. According to the degrees of arterial oxygen saturation, the group was thrown into normally retained and considerably decreased. Pulmonary blood flow was nearly normal or above. In 7 out of the 10 cases of G-3, contralateral lungs with distention emphysema was observed through x-ray-examination.
The increase in pulmonary blood flow with normally retained intracardiac blood pressure in cases of distention emphysema of contralateral lung suggests the distensibility of pulmonary vascular bed or the usually compensated cardiopulmonary function.
