The American review of respiratory disease
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In this review, an attempt has been made to select, evaluate, and interpret the pertinent literature relative to general anesthesia and the lung. Concepts of intrapulmonary gas exchange and respiratory system mechanics were synthesized, emphasizing the importance of changes in intrapulmonary gas distribution that are induced by general anesthesia and exploring the possible underlying mechanisms of these changes. ⋯ Numerous questions regarding the effect of anesthesia on the lung remain unanswered. The close relationship between advances in pulmonary physiology and the pulmonary effects of anesthetic actions is increasingly apparent, as is the importance of this knowledge in applying mechanical ventilation and end-expiratory pressure to patients with pulmonary disease.