Non‐invasive measurement of reduced ventilation:perfusion ratio and shunt in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a physiological definition of the disease

摘要

BackgroundAn objective definition of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is required to interpret trial outcomes and provide a baseline for prognostic studies. Current definitions do not quantify disease severity. The cardinal measures of impaired gas exchange are a reduced ventilation:perfusion ratio (VA:Q) and increased right to left shunt. These can be determined non‐invasively by plotting arterial oxygen saturation (Spo2) against inspired oxygen pressure (PIo2).