Nine patienth, 61-72 yearb old, wcrc stitdied awake anti during halothane anaesthesia Iiclorc and during upper ahdoniinal 5iiIge1 ) . (:cn~ral cii.rulalion Was rvaluated by nieaw (11' pulmonary artery i~athrteci/.a~ioci and ga5 cxc.haiige 1 , ) micltiiile i i c e r~ gas c:limina~ion ~cchnic~uc'. <\Make a i d sicpine, a rathcr wide dis!14~111iori o f \ '~/ Q was observed, with regions of low VA/Qin five patients and a small shunt (I-3%) in three patients. The overall dispersion of blood flow was log s.d. 0.93. With anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation, cardiac output fell by 30%, whereas pulmonary vascular pressures remained unaltered. The dispersion of pulmonary blood Ilow against V~l Q r a t i o s was further increased with a log s.d. of 1.67. Perfusion of regions with a low VA/Qwas significantly increased. With surgery, no significant changes were seen in cardiac output or vascular pressures. True shunt appeared or increased in seven patients, ranging from 1.3 to 17%. Perfusion to regions with low irA/Qdid not change. It is concluded that abdominal surgery interferes with gas exchange, presumably because of a cranial shift of the diaphragm which lowers FRC and thereby promotes airway closure. 39: 573-583. 33. Sybrecht G W, Garret I., Anthonisen N R. Eft'ect of chest strapping on regional lung function. J Appl Physiol39: 707-713. 34. Scheidt M, Hyatt R E, Rehder K. Effects ofrib cage or abdominal restrictiononlungmechanics.JA~plPhy.iiolI981:51: 1115-1121. 35. Klineberg P I,, Rehder K, Hyatt R E. Pulmonary mechanics and gas exchange in seated normal man with chest restriction. 3 Appl Plpiol