Calculation of the VD/VT ratio by the helium washout technique

In four normal subjects and 51 patients with chronic bronchitis-emphysema, bronchial asthma and pulmonary fibrosis, the VD/VT ratio was measured by a helium washout technique (wVD/VT) and by the conventional Bohr's method using the arterial CO2 tension (VD/VT). In 16 patients the wVD/VT ratio was compared with that calculated from Bohr's equation with the alveolar CO2 tension measured by the rebreathing technique (AVD/VT). It was found that the values for the VD/VT ratio obtained by the helium washout technique were very close to those obtained by the conventional method using the PaCO2 or PACO2 values.