Post-operative respiratory function: a ventilation-perfusion study

Many studies have shown that after uncomplicated abdominal surgery arterial hypoxaemia frequently occurs because of regional underventilation in relation to perfusion. This paper produced evidence that shows a small increase in physiological dead space to tidal volume ratio following general anaesthesia for abdominal surgery. This increase is thought to be due to tachypnoea rather than alteration in pulmonary blood flow.