Electrical impedance tomography: a new strategy to estimate V/Q relationship

The perfusion ventilation imbalance isolated V Q mismatch or in association with the intrapulmonary shunt V Q ratio is the fundamental mechanism that determines the gasometric alterations present in the pathologies of the pulmonary parenchyma the airways and the pulmonary circulation As the ventilation imbalance can be corrected with oxygen administration the intrapulmonary shunt is refractory to oxygen therapy therefore it is considered a remarkable tool to evaluate the magnitude of pulmonary compromise especially when the patients are receiving mechanical ventilation with positive airway pressure