title: Acute unilateral pulmonary nonventilation due to mucous plugs.
abstract: Acute bronchial obstruction by mucous plugs may be manifested clinically by dyspnea, hypoxemia, and respiratory alkalosis mimicking pulmonary thromboembolism. In eight cases with complete interruption of ventilation to an entire lung, chest radiography failed to reveal the extent of the obstruction. Perfusion was substantially less affected than ventilation. Routine ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy with technetium-99m DTPA aerosol aids in the diagnosis of acute major bronchial obstruction in patients with suspected pulmonary thromboembolism.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Korwan
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Greyson
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000472:Alkalosis, Respiratory / Q000175:diagnosis; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000175:diagnosis; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009093:Mucus; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate