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Through ventilation and perfusion scans, the abnormal area of lung may be localized. A provisional diagnosis of COPD, asthma or pulmonary embolisms may be made. Treatment of these underlying conditions may address ventilation perfusion mismatch. [citation needed] Management of the condition may vary.
These terms can also be used to describe areas or effects where blood flow and ventilation are not properly matched, though both may be present to varying degrees. Some references refer to “shunt-effect” or “dead space-effect” to designate the ventilation/perfusion mismatch states that are less extreme than absolute shunt or dead space.
Ventilation–perfusion coupling is the relationship between ventilation and perfusion processes, which take place in the respiratory system and the cardiovascular system. [1] Ventilation is the movement of gas during breathing, and perfusion is the process of pulmonary blood circulation , which delivers oxygen to body tissues. [ 2 ]
A pulmonary shunt is the passage of deoxygenated blood from the right side of the heart to the left without participation in gas exchange in the pulmonary capillaries. It is a pathological condition that results when the alveoli of parts of the lungs are perfused with blood as normal, but ventilation (the supply of air) fails to supply the perfused region.
An area with perfusion but no ventilation (and thus a V/Q of zero) is termed shunt. An area with ventilation but no perfusion (and thus a V/Q undefined though approaching infinity) is termed "dead space". [6] Of note, few conditions constitute "pure" shunt or dead space as they would be incompatible with life, and thus the term V/Q mismatch is ...
Hypoxemia is caused by five categories of etiologies: hypoventilation, ventilation/perfusion mismatch, right-to-left shunt, diffusion impairment, and low PO 2. Low PO 2 and hypoventilation are associated with a normal alveolar–arterial gradient (A-a gradient) whereas the other categories are associated with an increased A-a gradient. [11]: 229
Hypoxemia is generally attributed to one of four processes: hypoventilation, shunt (right to left), diffusion limitation, and ventilation/perfusion (V A /Q) inequality. [1] Moreover, there are also "extrapulmonary" factors that can contribute to fluctuations in arterial PO 2.
Ventilation-perfusion mismatch (parts of the lung receive oxygen but not enough blood to absorb it, e.g. pulmonary embolism, Acute respiratory distress syndrome, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Congestive heart failure. [1]