Pulmonary ventilation-blood flow imbalance

There are two basic forms of alveolar ventilatory blood flow imbalance: a decrease in the alveolar V / Q ratio and an increase in the alveolar V / Q ratio. Effective ventilation not only depends on the area and thickness of the alveolar membrane, the total alveolar ventilation and blood flow, but also requires the coordination of alveolar ventilation and blood flow. Total pulmonary ventilation and total blood flow can sometimes be normal during lung disease, but uneven distribution of ventilation and blood flow and severe ventilation-perfusion imbalance can prevent patients from performing effective ventilation. This is the most common mechanism for respiratory failure caused by lung disease.

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