[Determination of non-uniform pulmonary ventilation by transcutaneous measurement of the oxygen tension in the arterial blood under an oxygen load].

A method for determination of uneven ventilation in the lungs by the transcutaneous measurement of oxygen tension in arterial blood (TcPO2) is suggested. The degree of uneven ventilation was estimated by the time of a decrease in the TcPO2 till point of departure (desaturation time) after oxygen inhalation. The TcPO2 was measured by an oxymonitor (Hellige, Model SM 361). Twelve normal controls and 24 patients with chronic obstructive lung diseases were examined. The results showed that desaturation time in controls was 3.4 +/- 0.14 min, and in patients with chronic obstructive lung diseases it was significantly prolonged till 8 +/- 0.75 min; those data were in a good correlation with helium dilution time. The method may be recommended as a diagnostic test for determination of uneven ventilation in the lungs.