ARTERIAL OXYGEN PRESSURE DURING PURE O2 BREATHING

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Abstract
A method for measuring the O2 pressure in arterial blood using the dissolved O2 in plasma was described. A special tube for centrifugation of the blood without any gas loss was devised. Arterial O2 pressure in 8 normal subjects, breathing pure O2, averaged 35.5 mm. Hg lower than in alveolar air. Results agree with Roughton et al. in showing that the Hb capacity measured by the tonometer technic is too high. Interpretation of the incomplete equilibrium between arterial blood and alveolar air is discussed. In the normal subject the amt. of blood, if any, passing from right to left heart without being exposed to the gas phase cannot exceed 2% of the total pulmonary blood flow.