Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Regional distribution of ventilation-perfusion ratios in acute pulmonary embolism

  • Special Topic: Pulmonary Embolism
  • Published:
Intensive Care Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Regional ventilation perfusion ratios have been computed in 44 patients with acute pulmonary embolism with a gamma-camera using Krypton 81m, a short-life radionuclide delivered by inhalation and infusion. This noninvasive technique is performed during tidal breathing and can be easily repeated. High V/Q's are detected in the embolic regions and low V/Q's in the nonembolic regions with a shift of the perfusion distribution towards these low values. This pattern disappears with recovery. This technique can be used in clinical practice for diagnostic purposes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. West J (1977) Ventilation-perfusion relationships. Am Rev Resp Dis 116:919

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dantzker D, Wagner P, Tornabene V, Alzaraki NP, West JB (1978) Gas exchange after pulmonary tromboembolization in dogs. Cir Res 42:92

    Google Scholar 

  3. Dantzker D, Bower J (1979) Mechanisms of gas obliterative pulmonary vascular disease. J Clin Invest 64:1050

    Google Scholar 

  4. Harf A, Pratt T, Hugues JMB (1978) Regional distribution of Va/Q in man at rest and with exercise measured with Krypton 81m. J Appl Physiol 44:115

    Google Scholar 

  5. Harf A, Meignan M (1980) Computation of regional ventilation-perfusion ratio: an aid to the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Clin Resp Physiol 16:299

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bass H, Heckscher T, Anthonisen NR (1967) Regional pulmonary gas exchange in patients with pulmonary embolism. Clin Sci 33:355

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bass (1970) Regional pulmonary function in patients with pulmonary embolism. Bull Physiol Path Res 6:123

    Google Scholar 

  8. Wagner PD, Saltzman HA, West JB (1974) Measurement of continuous distributions of ventilation perfusion ratios: theory. J Appl Physiol 36:588

    Google Scholar 

  9. Goris M, Daspit S (1981) Krypton 81m ventilation scintigraphic for the diagnosis of pulmonary emboli. Clin Nucl Med 6:207

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hôpital Henri Mondor, F-94000, Créteil, France

    M. Meignan & L. Cinotti

  2. Department of Physiology, Hôpital Henri Mondor, F-94000, Créteil, France

    A. Harf

Authors
  1. M. Meignan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Harf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. Cinotti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Meignan, M., Harf, A. & Cinotti, L. Regional distribution of ventilation-perfusion ratios in acute pulmonary embolism. Intensive Care Med 10, 103–106 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00297567

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00297567

Key words

Search

Navigation