Inert gas-exchange theory using an electric analogue

When an inert gas of moderate or high solubility in blood is inhaled, the rate at which the alveolar concentration rises toward the inspired concentration increases as the inspired concentration is increased. The only previous systematic analysis of whole-body uptake of inert gases to allow for this effect was restricted to a single, artificial, respiratory pattern and the numerical calculations had to be made on a digital computer. This paper develops the theory for a range of respiratory patterns and shows how the computations may be made on a slightly modified form of a simple electric analogue. It is shown that the rate of saturation of the body increases less markedly with inspired concentration if the inspired alveolar ventilation, rather than the expired alveolar ventilation, is kept constant during the saturation process. Conversely, washout is more rapid with a constant inspired ventilation than with a constant expired ventilation. The theory is extended to show how the uptake of one inert gas may substantially affect the uptake of another, administered simultaneously. uptake, distribution and elimination; induction; recovery; drugs; inhaled anesthetics; nitrous oxide; diethyl ether; halothane; computers; ventilation; concentration effect; alveolar ventilation Submitted on February 13, 1964