[Supra-umbilical laparotomies and perturbed pulmonary blood oxygenation (author's transl)]

Pulmonary blood flow and ventilation were studied in twenty three patients after supra-umbilical laparotomy by means of samplings of blood gases and expiratory air content, spirometry, and pneumotachography. Although ventilatory perturbations predominate (notably, a lessened tidal volume and an amputation of the residual functional capacity they are found in conjunction with perfusion anomalies, an shown by the study of O2 and CO2 ductances). The PCO2/PO2 diagram of Rahn and Fenn further illustrates these perfusion alterations; in addition, it gives an impression of the metabolic orientation of the patients in the early post-operative period. Several physiopathological notions are derived from the study, as well as some therapeutic proposals.