Therapy of Paroxysmal Pulmonary Edema by Anti-Foaming Agents

Abstract

Expts. were performed with anti-foaming agents by inhalation in rabbits to decrease the severity of pulmonary edema caused by a standard dose of intraven. epinephrine. Poorly volatile drugs (heavy alcohols, Span 85) failed to exert any favorable effect. Ether gave only a slight improvement. Ethyl alcohol exerted an important favorable action. This action is partly due to the anti-foaming property of alcohol and partly to its action on the central nervous system. Combination of parenteral morphine with alcohol by inhalation gave the best results.