The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 27, 154-160, Copyright © 1979 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Unilateral pulmonary emphysema created by ligation of the left pulmonary artery in newborn puppies
WC DeVries, AV Seaber and WC Sealy
The left pulmonary artery was ligated in 7 puppies 12 to 24 hours after
birth. All were followed by periodic chest roentgenograms. At 6 months of
age, ventilatory spaces, split-lung function, and static compliances were
determined. Bronchograms and arteriograms were obtained, and histopathology
was studied. All animals demonstrated a decrease in left lung size with
gross and microscopic changes typical of chronic emphysema. There was
impressive bronchial artery hypertrophy. Oxygen consumption and static
compliances in the left lungs were depressed. These marked alterations in
maturation, as well as the degenerative changes, are believed to be related
to an impairment in the nutritive circulation of the lung.