Ventilation-perfusion relationships in children.

Ventilation-perfusion relationships (Va/Q) were studied in nine lung-healthy children, 7-15 years old, in whom a diagnostic heart catheterization was performed. VA/Q was assessed by a multiple inert-gas elimination technique. In subjects above 10 years of age, single, narrow modes of ventilation and perfusion were seen centred upon a VA/Q ratio of one. In three of the four youngest children, 10 years old or less, additional; 'high' VA/Q regions were observed. Neither shunt, nor 'low' VA/Q regions were seen in any child. Arterial PO2 was above 12 kPa in all except one and no age dependence was observed.