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Two formulas to measure shunting

Causes of increased A-a gradient
A) Bohr equation, Henderson-Hasselbalch equation
B) Alveolar hypoventilation, diffusion impairment
C) Fick's law, Poiseuille's law
D) V/Q mismatch, decreased FiO2

User Pxthxk
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Final answer:

The causes of an increased A-a gradient include physiological shunt and V/Q mismatch. Physiological shunt occurs when infection or edema obstructs an area in the lungs, while V/Q mismatch arises from a mismatch between ventilation and perfusion. Both conditions lead to changes in the V/Q ratio and affect gas exchange.

Step-by-step explanation:

A physiological shunt can develop in the lungs due to infection or edema, which obstructs an area and decreases ventilation but does not affect perfusion. This leads to a change in the V/Q ratio and affects gas exchange. V/Q mismatch, which can arise from anatomical or physiological changes, is another cause of an increased A-a gradient. V/Q mismatch occurs when there is a mismatch between ventilation and perfusion in the lungs, resulting in regions of broken down or blocked lung tissue known as dead spaces.

User Mauro Casas
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