The effects of time-varying blood flow on diffusional resistance to oxygen transfer in the pulmonary capillaries.

The effects of the persistence of pulsatile blood flow in the pulmonary capillaries on the over-all diffusing capacity and alveolar-arterial oxygen tension gradient were studied. A mathematical analysis was made of the oxygen transfer process using an undamped cardiac flow pulse in the capillaries and taking into account the finite rate of reaction of oxygen with hemoglobin.In five cases of both normal and low oxygen atmospheres, combined with varying degree of exercise, it was found that the alveolar-arterial oxygen tension gradients were not affected by the time-varying blood flow, while in cases of breathing air the over-all diffusing capacity of the lung increased 10-15% over the diffusing capacity obtained with constant blood flow rate in the pulmonary capillaries.