another set of blood samples were drawn. Oxygen contents were determined from measured haemoglobin concentrations, oxygen saturations and oxygen tensions, using standard formulae. Table 2 and Fig. 5 show the results obtained. Reductions in shunt were noted in all patients, with corresponding increases in PaO 2 , PvO 2 , and SvO 2 . This reduction in shunt was statistically significant in each patient (paired t-test, p < 0.005). The mean ratio of shunt post ⁄ prerecruitment procedure was 0.49 (0.05 SD). These preliminary data show that collapsed alveoli recruitment following use of the Open Lung Tool Ò manoeuvre leads to a reduction in pulmonary shunt and, as a consequence, to an optimisation of gas exchange and oxygenation.
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