Intrapulmonary shunting is a key contributor to hypoxia in COVID-19: An update on the pathophysiology.
Nikhil MayorHarry D J KnightsAleksandra KotwicaAndrew Solomon Joseph CoppolaHarriet HunterNathan JeffreysAlexander MorganShivani GuptaJames PrenticeRebecca MacfarlaneEmma Russell-JonesTheodore DassiosDavid Russell-JonesPublished in: PloS one (2022)
Shunt, not VA/Q mismatch, was associated with worsening hypoxia, though calculating shunt was not of prognostic value. This study adds to our understanding of the pathophysiology of hypoxaemia in COVID-19. Our inexpensive and reliable technique may provide further insights into the pathophysiology of hypoxia in other respiratory diseases.