Background

Patients with mitral valve disease (MVD) are at greater risk for respiratory complications after cardiac surgery compared with patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The authors hypothesized that ventilation-perfusion (VA/Q) inequality is more pronounced in patients with MVD before and after induction of anesthesia and during and after surgery when extracorporeal circulation (ECC) is used.

Methods

In patients with MVD (n = 12) or with CAD (n = 12), VA/Q distribution was determined using the multiple inert gas elimination technique. Intrapulmonary shunt (Qs/Qr) defined as regions with VA/Q < 0.005 [% of total perfusion (Qr)], perfusion of "low" VA/Q areas (0.005 < or = VA/Q < 0.1, [% of Qr]), ventilation of "high" VA/Q regions (10 < or = VA/Q < or = 100 [% of total ventilation VE]), and dead space (VA/Q > 100 [% of VE]) were calculated from the retention/excretion data of the inert gases. Recordings were obtained while patients spontaneously breathed air in the awake state, during mechanical ventilation after induction of anesthesia, after separation of patients from ECC, and 4 h after operation.

Results

Qs/Qr was low in the awake state (MVD group, 3% +/- 3%; CAD group, 3% +/- 4%) and increased after induction of anesthesia to 10% +/- 8% (MVD group, P < 0.05) and 11% +/- 7% (CAD group, P < 0.01). Qs/Qr increased further after separation from ECC (MVD group, 24% +/- 9%, P < 0.01; CAD group, 23% +/- 7%, P < 0.01). Similarly, alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference (PA-aO2) increased from 168 +/- 54 mmHg (anesthetized state) to 427 +/- 138 mmHg after ECC (MVD group, P < 0.01) and from 153 +/- 65 mmHg to 377 +/- 101 mmHg (CAD group, P < 0.01). In both groups, PA-aO2 was correlated with Qs/Qr. Four hours after operation, Qs/Qr had decreased significantly to 8% +/- 6% (CAD group) and 10% +/- 6% (MVD group). PA-aO2 and Qs/Qr showed no significant differences between the CAD and MVD groups.

Conclusions

Qs/Qr is the main pathophysiologic mechanism of gas exchange impairment during cardiac surgery for MVD or CAD. Impairment of pulmonary gas exchange secondary to general anesthesia, cardiac surgery, and ECC are comparable for patients undergoing myocardial revascularization or mitral valve surgery.

Mitral valve disease (MVD) frequently is associated with pathologic changes of respiratory function such as decreased lung volumes, [1,2] reduced pulmonary diffusing capacity for oxygen and carbon monoxide, [3] inhomogeneities of regional lung perfusion, [4] premature closure of peripheral airways, [4] bronchial hyperresponsiveness causing decreased airway conductance, [5] increased physiologic dead space ventilation, [1] and decreased static and dynamic lung compliance. [2]

Mitral valve surgery requires general anesthesia and muscle paralysis, mechanical ventilation, thoracotomy, and in most cases use of extracorporeal circulation (ECC), which may all substantially influence lung function. [6–8] Acute respiratory failure and prolonged mechanical ventilation constitute a major complication after cardiac surgery, particularly in patients undergoing mitral valve replacement. [9–12] Thus a quantitative analysis of factors impeding gas exchange in mitral valve surgery is of both theoretical and clinical value. In a previous study of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) having cardiac surgery, we found that intrapulmonary shunt increased after separation from ECC. [13] In the present investigation, our hypotheses were (1) that in the awake state and after induction of anesthesia, VA/Q mismatch is more pronounced in MVD than in CAD;(2) that an increase of shunt or perfusion of “low” V [circle, open over]A/ Q [circle, open over] regions after cardiopulmonary bypass is more marked in MVD; and (3) that, because of preexisting chronic pulmonary venous hypertension, recovery of V [circle, open over] sub A/Q [circle, open over] inequality is less complete early after mitral valve surgery than after myocardial revascularization. Using the multiple inert gas elimination technique, we studied the implications of general anesthesia, extracorporeal circulation, and surgical procedure on V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] relations in a group of patients undergoing mitral valve replacement and in a group of patients subjected to coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

We studied 12 patients with MVD and 12 patients with CAD. Table 1shows the demographic data of both groups. Nine patients in the MVD group had mitral regurgitation, one patient had mitral stenosis, and two patients had a mixed lesion with predominant mitral stenosis. Preoperative lung function tests revealed a forced vital capacity of 3.4 +/- 0.9 1 (82%+/- 12% of predicted value) and a forced expiratory volume in 1 s of 2.7 +/- 0.8 1 (83%+/- 14% of predicted value). Patients with significantly impaired lung function, concomitant ischemic heart disease due to coronary artery stenosis, or diseases of additional heart valves were excluded from the MVD group. Inclusion criteria for the CAD group were (1) stable angina pectoris, (2) left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 40%, (3) left ventricular end-diastolic pressure less than 15 mmHg, and (4) absence of marked preoperative lung dysfunction. [14] Forced vital capacity was 3.7 +/- 1.0 1 (85 +/- 14% of predicted value) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s was 2.9 +/- 0.9 1 (84 +/- 12% of predicted value). Patients with coexisting cardiac valvular, renal, hepatic, or cerebrovascular diseases or diabetes mellitus type I were excluded from the investigation. The study was approved by the ethical committee of Uppsala University Hospital, and informed consent was obtained from each patient.

Table 1. Demographic Data 

Table 1. Demographic Data 
Table 1. Demographic Data 

Anesthesia and Mechanical Ventilation 

All patients were given preoperative medication and anesthesia according to standard procedures at our institution. Morphine (10–15 mg) and scopolamine (0.4–0.6 mg) were given intramuscularly 60 min before the study. General anesthesia was induced with intravenous doses of fentanyl (5–10 micro gram/kg), thiopental (1.5–2.5 mg/kg), and pancuronium (0.1 mg/kg) and maintained by additional doses of fentanyl and a volatile inhalational anesthetic (halothane or enflurane 0.5–1.0%). The lungs were mechanically ventilated and tidal volume (VT= 8–10 ml/kg) and ventilatory frequency (f = 8 - 14 VT/min) were adjusted to maintain normal levels of arterial carbon dioxide (PCO2; PaCOsub 2, 36–44 mmHg). The Inspired oxygen fraction (F1O2) in nitrogen was 50% in both groups. Anticoagulation was provided by intravenous doses of acetone-free heparin [15](initial bolus, 300 IE/kg) and monitored according to the activated clotting time. The membrane oxygenator (Maxima; Medtronic, Anaheim, CA) was primed with 1,500–2,000 ml acetated Ringer's solution. During FCC, body core temperature was decreased to 30 +/- 0.5 degrees Celsius. Mechanical ventilation was stopped and the lungs were maintained in a noninflated state during cold cardioplegic arrest. A left atrial or ventricular vent was used in all patients. After declamping the aorta, the lungs were ventilated with 100% oxygen with one half the minute volume used before ECC, and full ventilation was restored before patients were separated from ECC. No positive end-expiratory pressure was applied before, during, or after cardiopulmonary bypass. [16] Nitroglycerin was given (0.2–2.0 micro gram [center dot] kg sup -1 [center dot] min sup -1) to each patient after they were separated from ECC. Mean doses were not statistically different between the groups. Eight patients in the MVD group and five patients in the CAD group required positive inotropic support (dobutamine, 5–10 micro gram [center dot] kg sup -1 [center dot] min sup -1), and the difference was not statistically significant. Mitral valve replacement was performed in each patient of the MVD group, and the duration of ECC and cardioplegic cardiac arrest were significantly longer compared with the CAD group (Table 1). In the intensive care unit, mechanical ventilation was maintained in the manner already described (F1O2, 50%) until the patient began to breath spontaneously. Adequate analgesia and sedation were achieved according to standard procedures at our institution. All patients were tracheally extubated 6 to 16 h after surgery. The duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation was not significantly different between both the two patient groups.

Cardiopulmonary Monitoring 

Left or right radial arterial pressure was measured using a 20 gauge peripheral catheter. A triple-lumen, thermistor-tipped catheter was introduced transcutaneously through the right jugular vein into a pulmonary artery. Cardiac output was measured by thermodilution. The mean of three measurements was calculated and used for statistical evaluation. Systemic arterial pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure, right atrial pressure, and pulmonary arterial occlusion pressure (PPAO) relative to atmospheric pressure were measured. Mean systemic arterial pressure (P with barSA) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (P with barPA) were obtained by electric integration of the pressure signal. The electrocardiograph lead II was continuously recorded and used to calculate heart rate. Arterial and mixed venous oxygen tensions (PaO2, P sub V with bar O2) and carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) were determined by standard techniques (ABL 3 Radiometer, Copenhagen, Denmark). Arterial and mixed venous oxygen saturations (SaO2, SVwith bar O2) were measured by spectrophotometry (OSM 3 Radiometer, Copenhagen, Denmark). The alveolar-arterial PO2gradient (PA-aO sub 2) was calculated from the alveolar gas equation and measured Pao2. [17]

Measurement of Ventilation-Perfusion Distribution 

The V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] distribution was analyzed according to the multiple inert gas elimination technique described by Wagner et al. [18–20] A mixture of inert gases (sulphur hexafluoride, ethane, cyclopropane, enflurane or halothane, diethylether, and acetone) dissolved in isotonic saline was infused continuously (3 ml/min) into a peripheral vein. A period of 40 min was allowed to ensure equilibration of the infused inert gases. Arterial and mixed venous blood samples and mixed expired gas samples were obtained and analyzed by gas chromatography (5880A, Hewlett Packard, Avondale). Assessment of retention and excretion of the inert gases allowed calculation of perfusion of lung regions with V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] < 0.005 (intrapulmonary shunt [Q [circle, open over] sub s/Q [circle, open over]T]), perfusion of lung regions with 0.005 less or equal to less or equal to 0.1 ("low" V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] regions), ventilation of lung regions with 10 less or equal to V [circle, open over] sub A/Q [circle, open over] less or equal to 100 ("high" V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] regions), and ventilation of lung regions with V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] > 100 (dead space [VD/V [circle, open over]T]). In addition, the mean distribution of ventilation and perfusion (V [circle, open over]meanof V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] and Q [circle, open over]meanof V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over], respectively) and the dispersion around the means expressed as the logarithmic standard deviation of ventilation and perfusion distribution (log SDV[circle, open over], log SDQ[circle, open over]) were determined. The technical quality of the V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] distribution was analyzed using the remaining sum of squared differences between measured and calculated retentions and excretions. The remaining sum of squared differences should not exceed 6 in more than 50% of the tests. [20] Based on the calculated V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] distribution, measured blood flow, mixed venous PO2, hemoglobin concentration and the slope of the dissociation curve, the expected PaO2was determined using an iterative procedure [21,22] and compared with measured PaO2.

General Protocol 

The patients were catheterized in the awake state and the infusion of inert gases was started. After a period of 40 min for equilibration of the inert gases, hemodynamic and respiratory data were determined while the patient was breathing air (1 = control state). General anesthesia was induced and the patient was mechanically ventilated. Another set of data was recorded after a period of 20 min to achieve stable hemodynamic and respiratory conditions (2 = anesthesia). Approximately 45 min after cardiopulmonary bypass and 10 to 15 min after closure of the sternum, ventilatory and hemodynamic measurements were made during stable cardiopulmonary conditions (3 = 45 min after ECC). Four hours after admission to the intensive care unit, cardiopulmonary status was determined during sedation and controlled mechanical ventilation (4 = 4 h after operation). The patients were kept supine before and after induction of anesthesia, during cardiac surgery, and during mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit.

Statistical Analysis 

The data were analyzed on a Systat statistical program (Systat, Evanston, IL) and are presented as mean values +/- standard deviation. Differences between nominal measures were analyzed using the chi squared test. The significance of a difference between two conditions was analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. The significance of differences among three or more conditions, the influence of more than one factor, or differences between two groups were tested by multiple analysis of variance. Correlations between different parameters were analyzed using the Spearman test. [23] A probability level less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Hemodynamics 

(Table 2) shows the hemodynamic data. P with barSAdecreased by 16% in both groups after induction of anesthesia and remained decreased after ECC and during the postoperative course. In the MVD group, P with barPAwas abnormally high in the awake state (30 +/- 8 mmHg) and decreased after induction of anesthesia (24 +/- 7 mmHg; P < 0.05). P with barPAwas significantly greater compared with the CAD group during all phases of the study. Similarly, in the awake state PPAOwas significantly greater in the MVD group (20 +/- 6 mmHg versus 13 +/- 3 mmHg; P < 0.01) but decreased by 20% in the anesthetized state. No further significant changes were observed after ECC or 4 h after operation. The cardiac index increased after separation from ECC (P < 0.05 in the MVD group) and increased further after the patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (P < 0.05 for both groups).

Table 2. Cardiopulmonary Data (mean +/- one standard deviation) in the Mitral Valve Disease Group (MVD; n = 12) and in the Coronary Artery Disease Group (CAD; n = 12) 

Table 2. Cardiopulmonary Data (mean +/- one standard deviation) in the Mitral Valve Disease Group (MVD; n = 12) and in the Coronary Artery Disease Group (CAD; n = 12) 
Table 2. Cardiopulmonary Data (mean +/- one standard deviation) in the Mitral Valve Disease Group (MVD; n = 12) and in the Coronary Artery Disease Group (CAD; n = 12) 

Gas Exchange 

(Table 2) shows data for gas exchange. PA-aO2was slightly increased in the awake state in both groups and increased significantly after induction of anesthesia (P < 0.01) and further after patients were separated from ECC (P < 0.01). Four hours after operation, PA-aO2had decreased and was not statistically different from the values obtained after induction of anesthesia. PA-aO2was not significantly different between patients with MVD or CAD throughout the study. In both groups, was slightly decreased while patients were awake and increased after anesthesia was induced (P < 0.05). After operation, PVwith bar O2was not statistically different from values before anesthesia was induced.

The Ventilation-Perfusion Relation 

(Table 3) shows data for the ventilation-perfusion relation. The retention and excretion data of the inert gases resulted in technically adequate V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] distributions, and the remaining sum of the squared differences remained less than 6 in 90 of 96 individual measurements. Before anesthesia was induced, a small inert gas shunt (0.03 +/- 0.03 [MVD group], 0.03 +/- 0.04 [CAD group]) and very little perfusion of “low” V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] regions (0.03 +/- 0.03 [MVD group], 0.03 +/- 0.04 [CAD group]) were observed. However, a slightly increased dispersion of “low” V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] ratios was seen, as evident by an increased log SDQ[circle, open over] in both groups, compared with healthy persons of the same age. [24] After anesthesia was induced, shunt increased significantly in the MVD group to 0.10 +/- 0.08 (P < 0.05). Perfusion of “low” V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] regions was also higher, but the difference was not significant. V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] mismatching worsened, as indicated by an increase of log SDQ[circle, open over] to 1.31 +/- 0.53 (P < 0.05). In patients with CAD, similar changes were observed. Shunt increased to 0.11 +/- 0.07 (P <0.01) and log SDQ[circle, open over] increased to 1.11 +/- 0.47 (P < 0.05). The differences compared with the MVD group were not statistically significant. After separation from ECC, there was a marked increase of shunt to 0.24 +/- 0.09 (MVD group, P < 0.01) and to 0.23 +/- 0.07 (CAD group, P < 0.01). Only a small fraction of cardiac output was distributed to “low” V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] areas. PAsup -aO2was correlated with Q [circle, open over]S/Q [circle, open over]T(MVD group: r2= 0.67, P < 0.05; CAD group: r2= 0.58, P < 0.05). Four hours after operation, Q [circle, open over]s/Q [circle, open over]Thad decreased to presurgical values, which was associated with an improvement of PAsup -aO2. Q [circle, open over]S/Q [circle, open over]Twas not significantly different in the MVD group (0.10 +/- 0.05) compared with that in the CAD group (0.08 +/- 0.06). Log SDQwas not significantly different from baseline values.

Table 3. Gas Exchange Data (mean +/- standard deviation) Derived from the Multiple Inert Elimination Technique in the Mitral Valve Disease Group (MVD; n = 12) and Coronary Artery Disease Group (CAD; n = 12) 

Table 3. Gas Exchange Data (mean +/- standard deviation) Derived from the Multiple Inert Elimination Technique in the Mitral Valve Disease Group (MVD; n = 12) and Coronary Artery Disease Group (CAD; n = 12) 
Table 3. Gas Exchange Data (mean +/- standard deviation) Derived from the Multiple Inert Elimination Technique in the Mitral Valve Disease Group (MVD; n = 12) and Coronary Artery Disease Group (CAD; n = 12) 

In the MVD group, but not in the CAD group, a consistent difference between predicted (calculated) and measured PAsup -aO2(Delta PO2) was observed (6 +/- 6 P < 0.05) in the awake state (Figure 1). There was no correlation between P with barPAand Delta PO2. There was a larger variation in the relationship between measured and calculated PAsup -aO2during anesthesia and after operation, possibly attributable to an imprecise estimation of F1Osub 2. Because small differences of F1O2will interfere significantly with Delta PO2, statistical calculations were made only for the data obtained while patients breathed air.

Figure 1. Comparison between measured arterial oxygen partial pressure (PA-aO2) and that calculated from the V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] distributions in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD; n = 12, open circles) and mitral valve disease (MVD; n = 12, solid circles). Data were obtained while the patients were awake and spontaneously breathing air. Note the similarity between the regression line (broken line) for measured and calculated PaO2values (y =-0.508 + 1.0003x, r2= 0.90, P < 0.001) in the CAD group and the identity line (solid line). In the MVD group, calculated PaO2was systematically higher than measured PaO2, as indicated by a shift of the regression line (broken line; y = 10.753 + 0.923, r2= 0.77, P < 0.01). One patient with mitral regurgitation showed remarkably well-preserved oxygenation despite pulmonary hypertension.

Figure 1. Comparison between measured arterial oxygen partial pressure (PA-aO2) and that calculated from the V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] distributions in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD; n = 12, open circles) and mitral valve disease (MVD; n = 12, solid circles). Data were obtained while the patients were awake and spontaneously breathing air. Note the similarity between the regression line (broken line) for measured and calculated PaO2values (y =-0.508 + 1.0003x, r2= 0.90, P < 0.001) in the CAD group and the identity line (solid line). In the MVD group, calculated PaO2was systematically higher than measured PaO2, as indicated by a shift of the regression line (broken line; y = 10.753 + 0.923, r2= 0.77, P < 0.01). One patient with mitral regurgitation showed remarkably well-preserved oxygenation despite pulmonary hypertension.

Close modal

The main findings of this study were (1) that no significant differences for gas exchange and V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] distribution could be demonstrated between awake patients with MVD or CAD, (2) that induction of anesthesia caused comparable degrees of intrapulmonary shunt in patients with MVD or CAD, (3) that Q [circle, open over]S/Q [circle, open over]Twas aggravated by ECC to the same extent in mitral valve surgery and myocardial revascularization, and (4) that recovery of gas exchange impairment and V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] inhomogeneity early after cardiac surgery were seen to the same extent in both groups of patients.

Moderate pulmonary venous hypertension may be associated with an increased blood flow to the apex of the lungs. [25] Concomitantly, ventilation of nondependent lung areas is increased at the expense of dependent regions, [26] which may improve V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] distribution in MVD. McEvoy et al. [27] studied the V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] relation in five patients with mitral stenosis before, during, and after submaximal exercise. At rest, little V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] mismatching was observed, as indicated by normal log SDQ[circle, open over] and log SDV[circle, open over] and absence of hypoxemia. In our patients with MVD, an increased log SDQ[circle, open over] reflects more extensive dispersion of V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] ratios. However, we noted a similar increase in the patients with CAD without pulmonary hypertension. More likely causes to the V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] mismatch are reduced functional reserve capacity promoting airway closure, and increased airway resistance (spirometry showed mild reductions of vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s).

Gas exchange was impaired after induction of anesthesia in the MVD group, but these changes were not statistically different from changes in the CAD group. Thus general anesthesia did not induce a more marked V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] mismatch in patients with pulmonary venous hypertension. The alterations of lung function in the anesthetized and paralyzed state are well in accordance with data published earlier by others [7,28] and by our group. [13,29] PA-aO2correlated with Q [circle, open over]S/Q [circle, open over]T, but not with perfusion of “low” V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] regions. Thus perfusion of nonventilated lung areas is an important component of gas exchange impairment in anesthetized patients who have MVD or CAD. Considerable V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] inhomogeneity was reflected by log SDQ[circle, open over], which had increased to a mean of 1.31 in the MVD group and 1.11 in the CAD group. Although the relative changes were comparable, the underlying mechanisms causing an increased degree of pulmonary blood flow dispersion may differ between both group of patients. Pulmonary hypertension in mitral valve stenosis or insufficiency may be a consequence of structural alterations of the capillaries, but hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction elicited by alveolar hypoxia can also be important. P with barPAdecreased by 20% in the MVD group when anesthesia was induced and with mechanical ventilation. No such alterations occurred in the CAD group. It has been shown that an increased pulmonary vascular tone improves V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] distribution in lung diseases (e.g., in obliterative pulmonary hypertension [30]), whereas an abnormally low vascular reactivity (e.g., in liver cirrhosis [31]) interferes with pulmonary gas exchange. Alternatively, the decrease in P with barPAmay be caused by decreased intrathoracic blood volume secondary to induction of anesthesia and mechanical ventilation. In earlier studies, Rehder et al. [32] and Landmark et al. [33] observed minor V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] inequality in anesthetized and paralyzed younger healthy persons. This may be due in part to differences in ages between our older patients and these other two studies. A correlation between log SDQ[circle, open over] and age has been shown in patients while they were awake and during anesthesia. [24]

After cardiopulmonary bypass, oxygenation was significantly impaired and Q [circle, open over]S/Q [circle, open over]Thad more than doubled. Extracorporeal circulation imposes considerable trauma to the lung, presumably due to the production and release of biologically active mediators from damaged blood cells, complement activation, platelet aggregation, pulmonary sequestration of granulocytes and monocytes, lung collapse, and disturbances of surfactant. [8,34–36] In addition, infusion of vasodilators may have contributed to an increased shunt. Extravascular lung water increases after ECC, [37] and this could also aggravate formation of atelectasis in dependent lung areas. However, Davies et al. [38] described significantly reduced113mIn-labeled transferrin accumulation in lungs of patients with severe mitral stenosis, indicating reduced microvascular permeability. Whether a decreased transcapillary fluid conductance prevents or attenuates formation of pulmonary edema during mitral valve surgery remains to be determined. Bedside assessment of extravascular lung water using a double-indicator technique (and the mean transit time approach) is questionable in the presence of MVD, and noninvasive techniques such as positron emission tomography or magnetic resonance tomography are not applicable during cardiac surgery. Despite a longer aortic cross-clamping time and duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] mismatch was comparable in the patients in the MVD and CAD groups. Indices of perfusion dispersion even decreased and no perfusion of lung areas with 0.005 less or equal to V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] less or equal to 0.1 was observed in either group. Thus more severe impairment of oxygenation was caused by increased shunt rather than by maldistribution of pulmonary blood flow. Our data show that these effects of ECC persisted for a short time, because oxygen exchange and V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] matching improved significantly during the first hours after cardiac surgery. In fact, Q [circle, open over]S/Q [circle, open over]T, “low” V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over], and log SDQ[circle, open over] values were not significantly different compared with the anesthetized state before surgery. The decrease in Q [circle, open over]S/Q [circle, open over]Tmay be explained by recruitment of collapsed alveoli, reabsorption of lung edema, or a combination of both mechanisms. The reasons for an improved Q [circle, open over]S/Q [circle, open over]Tcannot be differentiated by our multiple inert gas elimination technique data, because they describe overall gas exchange properties of the lung rather than topographical distribution of ventilation and perfusion. It should be noted that we excluded patients with MVD and severely impaired lung function or poorly compensated congestive heart failure. Thus additional studies are warranted to disclose the pathophysiology of shunt in patients having cardiac surgery.

In the MVD group, but not in the CAD group, PA-aO2calculated from the V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] relation was systematically higher than measured PA-aO2(Figure 1). In absolute terms, breathing air at rest, the difference between predicted and measured PA-aO2(Delta PO2) values averaged 6 mmHg or 18% of the actual PA-aO2. Histologic studies in patients with chronic pulmonary venous hypertension have found substantial thickening of the layer between the capillary lumen and the alveolar wall, which may cause diffusion limitation of oxygen. [39–41] Traditional techniques for assessing diffusion capacity for oxygen are also influenced by the V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] distribution. The determination of Delta PO2by the multiple inert gas elimination technique assumes (1) that no diffusion limitation exists for the six inert gases, (2) absence of postpulmonary shunt, (3) that the weights of the inert gases have no effect on their elimination, and (4) absence of intravascular inert gas gradients. [42] There is no evidence that the technical conditions of the present investigation interfere with these assumptions. A good fit of the derived V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] relation to the retention data (small remaining sum of squared differences) was found and an equally low mean error for heavy inert gases (e.g., enflurane) or light gases (e.g., ethane). An increased perfusion of bronchial or Thebesian vascular channels could produce an increased postpulmonary shunt. However, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure is typically increased in mitral insufficiency and this can rather be assumed to decrease postpulmonary shunt blood flow. In patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who breathed air at rest, Agusti et al. [43] observed a mean difference between predicted and measured PA-aO2of 6 mmHg, which compares favorably with our data. In interstitial lung disease, Delta PO2may contribute approximately 30% to PA-aO2during exercise. [44] The results of the present study give some support to the concept of a diffusion limitation for oxygen in mitral stenosis described by Blount et al. [45] more than 40 yr ago. The small Delta PO2indicates that V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] inequality is the main mechanism of gas exchange impairment in MVD, at least as long as the lung is normoxic and capillary transit time or Pvwith bar O sub 2 are not significantly reduced.

In conclusion, in awake or anesthetized and paralyzed patients with MVD or CAD, nearly the same V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] distribution was observed before, during, and after cardiac surgery. Intrapulmonary shunt and, to a lesser extent, perfusion of “low” V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] regions and decreased Pvwith bar O2contributed to impaired gas exchange. These alterations were aggravated by ECC but improved after surgery. Because V [circle, open over]A/Q [circle, open over] distribution is not significantly different between patients with CAD and MVD, the higher incidence of pulmonary complications in the latter group may be caused by other or additional mechanisms.

The authors thank Eva-Maria Hedin for help with the multiple inert gas elimination technique.

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