[Disordered alveolar-capillary gas metabolism in the acute stage of myocardial infarct].

The alveolar-capillary gas metabolism was studied in 60 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Arterial hypoxemia and hypocapnia were observed in the majority of the patients. Those disturbances are more pronounced in the presence of cardiac insufficiency. The combination of shunt effect with the diminution of cardiac volume is admitted to be the possible pathogenetic mechanism for arterial hypoxemia. The first mechanism is associated with the disturbances of the systemic hemodynamics. Both types of hemodynamic disturbances are conditioned by the weakness of the left ventricle.