title: Derivation of VA/Q distribution from blood-gas tensions.
abstract: Gas exchange was modelled by a Fortran program. Arterial blood-gas tensions have higher resolution than inert gas retentions in terms of distinguishing a single VA/Q compartment from a progressively broadening lognormal distribution. The maximum number of compartments determinable by arterial blood-gas tensions is three; VA/Q distributions containing more compartments are non-unique. Without utilizing 100% inspired oxygen, arterial blood-gas tensions cannot resolve the relative perfusion in shunt and low-VA/Q compartments, but the total perfusion in these compartments is determinable. The way in which the arterial blood-gas tensions vary with the variables of two and three-compartment distributions is described. Two- and three-compartment VA/Q distributions are derivable from either arterial blood-gas tensions or inert gas retentions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, Los Angeles 90024.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008954:Models, Biological; D005741:Noble Gases / Q000097:blood; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010313:Partial Pressure; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio
chemical_list: D005741:Noble Gases; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen