Pleural pressures at dorsal and ventral sites in supine and prone body positions.

Abstract

H. WOOD. Plaural presmres at dorsal and ventral sites in supine and prone body positions. J. Appl. Physiol. 2 I (5) : 1500-1510. Ig66.-Intrapleural pressures at two to five different sites in the right pleural space of nine anesthetized dogs were measured with fluid-filled catheters while the dogs were supported in the supine and prone positions by means of a half-body cast. Tips of the intrapleural catheters were placed at heart level in the cephalocaudad direction at ventral (retrosternal) and dorsal (paravertebral) sites. In the supine position mean end-expiratory pressure gave an average gradient of 0.64 cm I--&O per cm vertical distance between the two recording sites. In the prone position the average gradient was 0.91 cm Ha0 per cm vertical distance. Esophageal pressures were more positive than pleural pressures at the same vertical height in the thorax by about 2-5 cm I&O. During the increase in weight induced