Therapy of Experimental Pulmonary Edema in the Dog

The results of analysis of edema fluid and excised lungs show that there is leakage of protein-rich fluid into the lung tissue and ultimately into the respiratory passages. This leakage cannot be explained by the reduction in oxygen uptake as observed in lung tissue slices. The ultimate cause of pulmonary edema is not known. The survival time of anesthetized dogs suffering from thermal edema, can be prolonged by inhalation of oxygen and by administration of antihistaminic drugs and pulmonary vasodilators.