1. Ventilation Perfusion Relationships
The material intended to supplement reading from Chapter 8; Cardiopulmonary and Physiology, Des Jardins

2. . Ve = (VT)(f) = 4 to 6 L/m 4 . Ideal V/Q Ratio: = .8
Q = Cardiac Output
= 5 to 7 L/m 5

3. Shunt Unit . Ve = 2 L/m 2 . Low V/Q Ratio: = .4 Q = 5 to 7 L/m 5
Obstruction reduces ventilation to unit. . Ve
= 2 L/m 2
Shunt Unit
= .4 . Q
= 5 to 7 L/m 5

4. Shunt Units Atelectasis Airway obstruction
Bronchial smooth muscle constriction
Sputum
Fluid consolidation

5. Shunt
Also called “Intrapulmonary Shunt” this is the most common condition requiring oxygen therapy.
Not to be confused with “Anatomic Shunt”

6. Definitions Anatomic Shunt:
Normal: 2-5% of the [venous] Cardiac output returns to the left atrium (instead of the right atrium) and therefore does not exchange gases.
Abnormal: An additional source of venous blood entering the left atrium without exchanging gases in the lungs. Example: is an “Atrial Septal Defect”.

7. Definitions
Intrapulmonary Shunt: Blood move through the capillaries of the lungs but does not exchange gases.
Shunt-like effect: an alveolus with relatively more perfusion (blood flow) than ventilation; (rather than an absolute condition as described above). Also known as [low] V/Q mismatch.

8. Shunt: Oxygen Consequences
PAO2
PaO2
SaO2

9. Shunt: Oxygen Consequences
The blockage of Alveoli needed for gas exchange makes an impact on oxygen:
PaO2 goes down in about the same proportion as the loss of surface area for gas exchange.
In the case of blockage: the surface area is ok, it is just not being exposed to oxygen, and therefore is useless to gas exchange.

10. Shunt: Oxygen Consequences
The only compensation that the body has for this loss is to increase ventilation (not very effective) and increase heart rate.
The increase in Heart Rate is to try to deliver more oxygen to tissues.
The increase in Heart Rate actually makes the V/Q imbalance a little worse.

11. Shunt: Oxygen Consequences
Oxygen Therapy
Shunt Unit
PAO2
40 mmHg
PaO2
Normal Unit
70 mmHg
95 mmHg
PAO2
100 mmHg
150 mmHg
PaO2

12. “Uneven distribution of ventilation with respect to perfusion is the most common clinical phenomenon responsible for Hypoxemia that is responsive to oxygen therapy (shunt effect).”
Barry Shapiro M.D., Clinical Application of Respiratory Care. Yearbook Medical Publishers

13. Shunt: CO2 Consequences
PCO2

14. Shunt: CO2 Consequences
Although shunt potentially increases Carbon Dioxide, the bodies compensatory mechanism—increase in Ventilation is very effective at controlling PCO2 levels.
The loss of surface area has minimal impact on CO2 (since it diffuses 20 times easier).
Massive loss of surface area will have an impact on CO2….but the patient might be already dead from hypoxia!

15. Gas Consequences of Shunt
In summary, Shunt:
Has profound impact on Oxygenation
Poor compensatory mechanism.
Patient often requires supplementary oxygen therapy to which they respond well.
Less of an impact on CO2…body can usually compensate well with increase in Ve.

16. Deadspace Unit . Ve = 4 to 5 L/m 4 . High V/Q Ratio: = 4 Q = 1 L/m 1
Obstruction: blood clot . Q
= 1 L/m 1

17. Deadspace
Please be aware that we are talking about the abnormal condition of “Alveolar Deadspace”, not to be confused with the normal amount of “Anatomic Deadspace” which generally equals 1 ml per pound of ideal body weight.
“Physiologic Deadspace” is both of the above combined.

18. Oxygen Consequences of Deadspace
Whatever percentage of ventilation that enters deadspace units is wasted effort!
For example if you have a 500 cc tidal volume, and 200 is in deadspace units, then you only have 300 cc of effective tidal volume.
As with Shunt, the loss of surface area for gas exchange reduces oxygen levels without as much effect on CO2 level.

19. Sources of Deadspace Pulmonary embolus (blood clot to the lung)
Zone I: area of poor blood distribution in the lung.

20. Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3

21. V/Q Mismatch
Mechanical Ventilation (positive pressure ventilation) prefers the less heavily laden (with blood) upper (non gravity dependent) area. This is because lung tissue with less blood flow is more compliant (stretchy). Air, following the path of least resistance, will go to the non-gravity dependent areas first. The V/Q mismatch that results in an inevitable consequence of mechanical ventilation.

22. Deadspace Treatment
Deadspace tends to be less responsive to oxygen therapy than does Shunt and may require more aggressive therapy.
Deadspace disorders are often treated with 100% oxygen.
In severe cases, patients may require mechanical ventilation (that is, with either shunt or deadspace)