title: A tidal breathing model of the inert gas sinewave technique for inhomogeneous lungs.
abstract: The tidal breathing model conservation of mass equations for the sinewave technique have been described for a homogeneous alveolar compartment by Gavaghan and Hahn, 1996 [Gavaghan, D.J., Hahn, C.E.W., 1996. A tidal breathing model of the forced inspired gas sinewave technique. Respir. Physiol. 106, 209-221]. We develop these equations first to a multi-discrete alveolar compartment lung model and then to a lung model with a continuous distribution of volume, ventilation and perfusion. The effect on the output parameters of a multi-compartment model is discussed, and the results are compared to those derived from the conventional continuous-ventilation model. Using the barely soluble gas argon as the tracer gas, an empirical index of alveolar inhomogeneity is presented which uses the end-expired and mixed-expired partial pressures on each breath. This index distinguishes between a narrow unimodal distribution of ventilation-volume, a wide unimodal distribution of ventilation-volume and a bimodal distribution of ventilation-volume. By using Monte Carlo simulations, this index is shown to be stable to experimental error of realistic magnitude.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Infirmary, Woodstock Road, OX2 6HE, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Whiteley
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gavaghan
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hahn
mesh_terms: D001128:Argon; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008954:Models, Biological; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D005741:Noble Gases; D012119:Respiration; D013990:Tidal Volume; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio
chemical_list: D005741:Noble Gases; D001128:Argon; D009609:Nitrous Oxide