Failure of indomethacin to prevent or ameliorate oleic acid pulmonary edema in the dog.

The possibility that prostaglandin synthesis inhibition might favorably inhibit the development of animal adult respiratory distress syndrome models was investigated in two groups of dogs; one group was pretreated with indomethacin 3 mg/kg. Both groups received oleic acid 0.15 mg/kg. Measurements of gas exchange and hemodynamics were performed every hour for 5 hours following embolization. Severe pulmonary edema developed in both groups. The indomethacin pretreated group responded similarly to the control group; there was no difference in the 5 hour course of Pa02 (p = .34), P(A-a)02 (p = .21) or QS/QT (p = .99). Prostaglandin synthesis inhibition did not favorably influence the immediate development of acute respiratory failure following oleic acid.