[Disturbances of ventilatory distribution as a cause of postoperative hypoxemia after cardio-thoracic surgery (author's transl)].

In a group of 21 patients with thoracotomy the lung function was investigated pre-and postoperatively with particular consideration to N2-clearance. From the N2-clearance an Inspiratory Gas Distribution Index (IDI) is derived. This Index allows in combination with blood gas analysis an interpretation of ventilatory disturbances in the lung.