Key result
Morphine aids high-altitude pulmonary edema by reducing central venous pressure and stabilizing respiration.
Why the study?
The mechanisms underlying the beneficial effect of morphine in high altitude pulmonary oedema remain unclear despite its clinical effectiveness.
Does morphine affect pulmonary blood volume in convalescents from high altitude pulmonary oedema?
Does morphine affect pulmonary blood volume in convalescents from high altitude pulmonary oedema?
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Morphine is hypothesized to provide benefit in pulmonary edema by reducing central venous pressure, suppressing the respiratory center, and restoring normal breathing mechanics.
Morphine proved effective when anxiety, restlessness, and laboured breathing associated with high altitude pulmonary cedema did not respond satisfactorily to oxygen therapy (Singh et al., 1965).Pharmacologically, no primary effect of morphine on the pulmonary circuit in man has so far been demonstrated (Daley, Goodwin, and Steiner, '1960).However, more than one explanation exists for the beneficial effect of morphine in pulmonary cedema: (1) morphine helps to reduce the central venous pressure by allaying anxiety and restlessness, (2) morphine suppresses the respiratory centre and relieves the sensation of suffocation, (3) in laboured breathing there is considerable negativity of intrathoracic pressures; this causes the alveolar blood vessels to collapse, thus impeding the oxygenation of blood: morphine abolishes this by restoring normal breathing.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Roy et al. (1965) studied High altitude pulmonary edema. Morphine was evaluated. Morphine provides beneficial effects in high altitude pulmonary edema by reducing central venous pressure, suppressing the respiratory center, and restoring normal breathing to prevent vessel collapse.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: