Fluid Distribution in Progressive Pulmonary Edema: A Low-Temperature Scanning-Electron-Microscopy Study

摘要

High pressure pulmonary edema is a common medical disorder caused by venous hypertension following left ventricular heart failure. Abnormal fluid accumulation in the alveolar air spaces results in a life-threatening loss of respiratory function. The primary component of the fluid is water and therefore the study of water distribution in the alveolus can provide insight into high pressure pulmonary edema pathology. The new method of freeze-fracture, low temperature SEM has been developed and applied to the study of pulmonary edema. This method combines freeze-fracture sample preservation with SEM observation and retains pulmonary fluids in the frozen hydrated state for direct three-dimensional SEM imaging of alveoli. Quantitative measurements of alveolar structures resulting from high-pressure pulmonary edema were made from SEM micrographs. From these measurements a model for alveolar fluid distribution resulting from progressive high pressure edema was made. (ERA citation 07:005567)