Effect of pulmonary hyperinflation on central blood volume: An MRI study

Highlights • Pulmonary hyperinflation, as seen in breath-hold divers during breath-hold with glossopharyngeal insufflation (GPI), challenges the circulation by compressing the heart and pulmonary vasculature. • The amount of blood that is translocated from the central blood volume during GPI is not known. • Pulmonary hyperinflation led to an almost 50% decrease in pulmonary and central blood volume. • The decrease in cardiac and pulmonary blood volume was positively correlated with age. • Overall pulmonary transit time did not change during GPI but individual pulmonary transit times for gadolinium contrast were negatively correlated with right and left ventricular contractility as determined by ejection fraction.