The Diagnosis of Circulatory Shunts by the Nitrous Oxide Test

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Abstract
The nitrous oxide test for the detection and localization of left-to-right shunts has previously been studied clinically. Further experience with the method has shown that a higher N2O concentration and an earlier sampling period result in a larger arteriovenous N2O difference that increases the sensitivity of the test and further minimizes the importance of possible analytic errors. In addition, a method is described of determining the magnitude of the shunt from the results of a N2O test. The results of 150 N2O tests performed with the improved technic are presented, and compared to the results obtained with the O2 method in a group of patients on whom both tests were carried out.