Rebreathing techniques for pulmonary capillary blood flow and tissue volume

The variability of three methods of calculating pulmonary capillary blood flow (Qc) and pulmonary tissue plus capillary blood volume (Vt) during rebreathing was assessed in normal humans by using as markers acetylene, ethyl iodide, and dimethyl ether. The methods of analysis were as follows. Method I, the timing of the disappearance curves of the soluble gases was corrected by assuming that the C18O-disappearance curve intercepted at unity at time O. Method II, it was assumed that the acetylene Qc calculated by method I was correct; ethyl iodide and dimethyl ether Vt were solved by an equation using the disappearance slopes of these gases and the acetylene Qc value, thereby avoiding dependence on extrapolated intercept values. Method III, Vt was calculated by solving for a unique value of Qc between pairs of disappearance slopes of acetylene and dimethyl ether, acetylene and ethyl iodide, and ethyl iodide and dimethyl ether. Among the three methods, method I gave the most reproducible values for Vt as determined with acetylene or dimethyl ether. Using method I, both acetylene and dimethyl ether were equally acceptable gases for measurement of Vt; acetylene was a better marker for Qc measurements.