Regional distribution of ventilation-perfusion ratios in acute pulmonary embolism.

Regional ventilation perfusion ratios have been computed in 44 patients with acute pulmonary embolism with a gamma-camera using Krypton 81m, a short-life radionuclide delivered by inhalation and infusion. This noninvasive technique is performed during tidal breathing and can be easily repeated. High V/Q's are detected in the embolic regions and low V/Q's in the nonembolic regions with a shift of the perfusion distribution towards these low values. This pattern disappears with recovery. This technique can be used in clinical practice for diagnostic purposes.