Alveolar Gas Exchange in Clinical Pulmonary Embolism

Abstract

ACUTE pulmonary embolism is probably the most common lung disease present in hospitalized patients.^{1 , 2} The difficulties inherent in its diagnosis are considerable, and underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis are common. Since this is a disorder of the pulmonary circulation, a major area of physiologic derangement involves the gas-exchange functions of the lung. Previous studies by Severinghaus and Stupfel³ and from this laboratory^{4 , 5} have shown that measurements involving carbon dioxide gas exchange provide useful information regarding the possibility of this diagnosis. The present report extends previous observations to other aspects of gas exchange during clinical pulmonary embolism.The aspects to be considered include . . .