Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.
Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction is a local reflex in the lung that diverts blood away from poorly oxygenated regions. Improvements in understanding of modulators of this response have led to pharmacologic methods whereby V/Q matching may potentially be improved in certain types of pulmonary pathology and during anesthesia for thoracic surgical procedures.
Eisenkraft
J B
JB
Department of Anesthesiology, The Mount Sinai Medical Center, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1010, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA. james_eisenkraft@smtplink.mssm.edu