British journal of anaesthesia
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Carbon dioxide (CO₂)-pneumoperitoneum (PP) of 12 mm Hg increases arterial oxygenation, but it also promotes collapse of dependent lung regions. This seeming paradox prompted the present animal study on the effects of PP on ventilation-perfusion distribution (V/Q) and gas exchange. ⋯ Perfusion was redistributed away from dorsal, collapsed lung regions when PP was established. This resulted in a better V/Q match. A possible mechanism is enhanced hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.