Lung volume, closing volume, and gas exchange.

Abstract

The effect of a voluntary reduction in lung volume on arterial O2 saturation (SaO2) was studied in 10 normal subjects aged 19-63 yr. SaO2 was measured by ear oximetry first during tidal breathing at functional residual capacity, and then during tidal breathing at 380 ml above residual volume. Tidal volume and breathing frequency were kept constant, and end-tidal CO2 partial pressure remained stable or fell in 9 out of 10 subjects. When lung volume was reduced, SaO2 fell by a mean of 1.5% (range 0-3%). Closing volume (CV) was measured by the N2-washout method (mean 0.89 liter, range 0.41-1.44). There was a close correlation between CV and the fall in SaO2 (r = 0.867, P = 0.001). Arterial and mixed venous CO2 were measured in one subject; the results indicated some fall in cardiac output following the lung volume change, but this accounted for less than half of the fall in SaO2. The relationship between CV and the lung volume at which tidal breathing occurs is an important determinant of pulmonary gas exchange through its effect on the matching of ventilation to perfusion.