Anesthesiology
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The authors investigated whether the increases in venous admixture and intrapulmonary shunt which occur with increases in cardiac output (Qt) results from an effect mediated by mixed venous PO2 (PVO2) or an effect mediated by the increase in pulmonary blood flow. Using a veno-venous bypass system thay were able to alter PVO2 independent of variations in Qt and vice versa. During room air ventilation of dogs with normal lungs at constant Qt, an increase in PVO2 from 33 +/- 7 (mean +/- SD) to 54 +/- 9 mmHg (P less than 0.05) resulted in a decrease in venous admixture from 22 +/- 11 to 13 +/- 4% (P less than 0.05). ⋯ The authors conclude that during oxygen ventilation, normal dogs have shunts which are unaffected by changes in blood flow or PVO2. Increases in pulmonary blood flow increase venous admixture during room air ventilation, while increases in PVO2 decrease venous admixture during air ventilation. In edematous lungs, increases in either PVO2 or pulmonary blood flow increase shunt.