Extracellular Body-Fluid Volumes In Chronically Hypoxemic Lambs

The extent to which body fluid volumes change as a consequence of chronic hypoxemia is not exactly known. Therefore we measured extracellular and plasma volumes in 5 chronically hypoxemic lambs. Before the 10th day of life we placed an inflatable balloon around the pulmonary artery, performed an atrial septostomy and inserted catheters. On days 3-4 after surgery the balloon was gradually inflated. In another 7 lambs only catheters were placed. At 5 weeks of age the lambs were studied. We used single injections of ferrocyanide and Evans blue to measure extracellular and plasma volumes, respectively.