A B S T R A C T Studies were performed on 10 patients with the clinical syndrome of alveolar capillary block while each patient was breathing four different inspired oxygen mixtures. The data were interpreted using the principle of the Bohr integral isopleth with which alveolar oxygen tension in the differently ventilated parts of the lung can initially be treated as unknown. It is then possible to determine the distribution of ventilation, of perfusion, of diffusing capacity, of lung volume, and of alveolar and end capillary blood oxygen tension in the variously functioning parts of the lung. In two patients shunts were the major factor interfering with oxygen transfer. In four others inequalities in ventilation: perfusion ratios and in diffusing capacity in different parts of the lung were the factors interfering with oxygen transfer. In four more patients ventilation: perfusion ratios were the same throughout the lung, the only disturbance of oxygen transfer being in the total diffusing capacity or in its distribution between the different parts of the lung.
The relationships between various inspired oxygen concentrations and the oxygen saturation of endcapillary pulmonary blooddependentonventilation perfusion and diffusing capacity – perfusion abnormalities can be estimated by means of a diagram. It lends itself to general considerations about the rational use of oxygen in patients with chronic pulmonary disease. It is shown that these considerations are highly applicable to several groups of patients in which these abnormalities have been investigated and that inspired oxygen concentration may be limited to various degrees relevant to the nature of the functional disturbances.Relationships Between Oxygen Saturation of Endcapillary Pulmonary Blood and Inspired Oxygen Concentrations in the Inhomogeneous Lung Considerations About the Rational Application of Oxygen in Chronic Pulmonary Disease Untersuchungen der letzten Jahre haben ergeben, dass die kontinuier-liche Sauerstoffanwendung zur Behandlung von Patienten mit chronisch-obstruktiven Lungenerkrankungen und respiratorischer Insuffizienz gerecht-fertigt ist. Durch die bessere Oxygenierung des Blutes werden nicht nur der Atemwegswiderstand signifikant gesenkt und die Polyglobulie zum Ver-schwinden gebracht, sondern vor allem wird auch die pulmonale Hyper-tonie entscheidend gesenkt [14,18]. Zahlreiche klinische Beobachtungen haben aber gezeigt, dass der Erfolg der Sauerstofftherapie bezüglich der Ver-
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