title: Effect of positional change on ventilation-perfusion distribution in unilateral pleural effusion.
abstract: The effect of pleural effusion on lung function and gas exchange has not been adequately defined. We used the multiple "inert" gas technique to study gas exchange and ventilation-perfusion relationships in both the left and the right lateral decubitus positions in a patient with a moderate unilateral (left) pleural effusion. With position change, only a small change in oxygenation (3 mm Hg) and no change in carbon dioxide tension occurred. The ventilation-perfusion relationships were also nearly identical for both body positions. We conclude that a pleural effusion of moderate size has little effect on overall gas exchange and ventilation-perfusion relationships and that complex mechanisms of the respiratory system compensate for the effusion.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Diseases and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rehder
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011187:Posture; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio