Abstract
We evaluated the alveolar–arterial oxygen difference (ΔA-a) and the ratio between Pao2 and the fractional concentration of inspired oxygen (P/F) in acute pancreatitis. Eleven patients had mild uncomplicated disease, six showed acute abdominal fluid collections, six had acute abdominal collections and asymptomatic x-ray lung involvement, three presented transient dyspneic episodes, and four had severe acute pancreatitis requiring prolonged oxygen therapy. In the uncomplicated disease, respiratory function was normal; in the six patients with abdominal collections only, ΔA-a increased by 50% and P/F decreased by 20–30%; in the six patients with abdominal collections and asymptomatic x-ray lung involvement, ΔA-a increased by 50–70% and P/F decreased by 40%; the three patients with dyspneic episodes showed a twofold increase in ΔA-a and a 40% decrease in P/F; the four patients with severe pancreatitis had a two- to threefold increase in ΔA-a and a 40–50% decrease in P/F. Hence respiratory function is normal only in uncomplicated pancreatitis; in the presence of complications, disturbance of gas exchange always occurs, requiring careful control and treatment.
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Salomone, T., Tosi, P., Di Battista, N. et al. Impaired Alveolar Gas Exchange in Acute Pancreatitis. Dig Dis Sci 47, 2025–2028 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019668728058
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019668728058