Pulmonary Blood Velocity in Congestive Heart Failure. Velocity in Pulmonary Venous Circuit

Our observations demonstrate that there are changes chiefly, and sometimes solely, in the velocity of the pulmonary venous circulation clearly related to congestive heart failure. This velocity was estimated by utilizing 2 methods for studying pulmonary blood flow (1) the ether time 1 which serves as a measure of the rate of blood flow in the pulmonary arterial system and (2) the taste or saccharine time 2 which serves as a measure of the rate of blood flow through the combined arterial and venous circuit, the so-called “crude pulmonary circulation”. By subtracting (1) from (2) we obtained readings of velocity in the pulmonary venous system. The normal average ether time is 5 to 9 seconds, the taste or saccharine time is 14 to 16 seconds, and the average velocity in the venous circuit is 6 to 9 seconds, practically identical with that in the arterial circuit.

Figures within normal limits were observed in 100 hospital individuals from various diseases, the greatest number of whom were free of cardiac disease and the rest recovered from congestive heart failure. On the other hand, in 30 hospital individuals with cardiac disease and in various stages of congestive failure lasting over many months, there were always prolonged saccharine time readings but the ether figures were within normal limits; the arithmetical difference between the saccharine and ether readings was always greater than normal, in some instances between 36 and 52 seconds as against normal of 6 to 9 seconds. This evidence of marked retardation in the pulmonary venous channels was noted promptly upon the initiation of congestive failure and the retardation persisted until not only visible external signs but residual central pulmonary congestion disappeared completely.