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Pulmonary Vascular Resistance and Viscosity: The Forgotten Factor

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Abstract

Calculating pulmonary vascular resistance is important in many fields of medicine. Although the influence of hematocrit on calculated resistance has been known for many years, it is rare to find the appropriate corrections in published articles. This review discusses the relationship between viscosity and resistance and shows how the effect of viscosity can be allowed for by calculating hindrance or relative viscosity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics and Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, 505 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA

    Julien I. E. Hoffman

  2. 925 Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon, CA, 94920-1525, USA

    Julien I. E. Hoffman

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  1. Julien I. E. Hoffman
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Correspondence to Julien I. E. Hoffman.

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Hoffman, J.I.E. Pulmonary Vascular Resistance and Viscosity: The Forgotten Factor. Pediatr Cardiol 32, 557–561 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-011-9954-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-011-9954-3

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