

Airway dead space (V(D)aw) was subtracted to yield the alveolar dead space the percentage of alveolar volume occupied by alveolar dead space per breath = V(D)alv/V(T)alv x 100%. The V(D)alv/V(T)alv was determined from volumetric capnography and arterial blood gas analysis, which permits measurement of the physiologic dead space, V(D)phys (mL) =.


Pulmonary embolism was excluded by PAG in 20 subjects. Pulmonary embolism was diagnosed in 33 by high-probability ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scan (n = 19) or by pulmonary arteriography (PAG, n = 14). To determine whether the alveolar dead space volume (V(D)alv), expressed as a percentage of the alveolar tidal volume (V(D)alv/V(T)alv), can predict the degree of vascular occlusion caused by pulmonary embolism (PE).įifty-three subjects with suspected PE were prospectively studied.
