title: Ventilation-perfusion relationships in children.
abstract: Ventilation-perfusion relationships (Va/Q) were studied in nine lung-healthy children, 7-15 years old, in whom a diagnostic heart catheterization was performed. VA/Q was assessed by a multiple inert-gas elimination technique. In subjects above 10 years of age, single, narrow modes of ventilation and perfusion were seen centred upon a VA/Q ratio of one. In three of the four youngest children, 10 years old or less, additional; 'high' VA/Q regions were observed. Neither shunt, nor 'low' VA/Q regions were seen in any child. Arterial PO2 was above 12 kPa in all except one and no age dependence was observed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000502:physiology; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen