Mechanisms Controlling the Peripheral Circulation of the Lung with Some Clinical Correlations

Supported by experimental evidence, I have presented the thesis that there is a stasis of blood in alveolar capillaries caused by a generalized constriction of precapillary arteriolar sphincters produced by vagal hyperactivity. This, alone, can be held accountable for every clinical and histopathological feature of the syndrome. Evidence adduced from my own and other studies supports the idea of vagal predominance in PHS. A rational basis for a simple and, hopefully, a generally successful treatment of PHS by anti-vagal agents such as atropine has been outlined