Pulmonary oedema and chronic bronchitis associated with perioperative sepsis.

The relationship of pulmonary oedema and chronic bronchitis in perioperative septic patients has been examined. There is a close association. It appears likely that the reason for this association is a reduction of the pulmonary vascular capacity due to destructive changes, hypertrophy of muscle within the walls of blood vessels and widespread regional hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.