Postural Effects on Gas Exchange in Infants

Abstract
In adults with unilateral lung disease, pulmonary gas exchange is better when the patient is positioned with the good lung dependent. We studied the effects of body position on gas exchange in 10 infants with unilateral lung disease by measuring transcutaneous oxygen and carbon dioxide pressures in the supine and right and left lateral positions. We also performed krypton lung scans and measured changes in thoracic gas volumes in four of the infants.