Demonstration of aventilatory mass flow during ventilation and apnea in man

Abstract

Use of the whole body plethysmograph has made possible the visualization of an aventilatory mass flow (AVMF) during both ventilation and apnea in man. It has been demonstrated that even short aventilatory intervals are accompanied by an observable en masse movement of ambient air into the lungs due to the diffusive uptake of O2 plus impoundment of CO2 because of the long airway. Since the basic phenomenon occurs during all phases of breathing, including the uninterrupted normal breathing rhythm, it is suggested that it be given a more descriptive name than ‘diffusion respiration’ ( Anesth. & Analg. 28: 307, 1949) or ‘apneic diffusion of oxygenation’ ( Acta chir. scandinav., Suppl. 212, 1956). Aventilatory mass flow (AVMF) is suggested as a name which includes the observable part of the phenomenon—mass flow—and which does not embody any misleading terms.

Aventilatorischer Massenfluss während Apnoe

“…Kettler u. Sonntag [13] demonstrierten, dass unter dieser Bedingung Apnoezeiten von bis zu 20 min problemlos toleriert werden. Dieses Verfahren wird in der Literatur üblicherweise als "apnoische Oxygenierung" bezeichnet [2,13,21,25,32].…”

“…Schwankungen, wie die hier beobachteten, können auch bei pneumotachographischen, plethysmographischen und kapnometrischen Untersuchungen registriert werden. Dort gilt es als gesichert, dass die direkte mechanische Beeinflussung der Lunge durch die Herzaktion als Ursache anzusehen ist [2,20]. Entgegen der Auffassung von Slutsky u.…”

Diffusion in anaesthesia

“…By use of the total body plethysmograph aventilatory mass flow, or "diffusion respiration," has been demonstrated independent of breathing movements. 7 The significance of this in total ventilation is as yet unknown.…”

Some Physiological Aspects of Respiratory Emergencies

“…higher than if this mechanism were not operative. This process has been variously called diffusion respiration (Draper and Whitehead, I944), apnoeic oxygenation (Nahas and L'Allemand, 1956), but the term 'aventilatory mass flow' (AMF) (Bartlett, Brubach and Specht, 1959), though cumbersome, is more accurately descriptive.…”