A new technique for evaluating nitrogen washout efficiency
Mauderly, J.L.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 38(1): 69-74
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 835869 Document Number: 113655
Nitrogen washout curves of unsedated human beings and dogs were constructed by plotting the breath-by-breath end-expiratory nitrogen fraction against breathing rate on a semilog scale. Curves were analysed graphically, and the slope of the 2nd of the 3 components was expressed by the number of breaths per minute required to halve the nitrogen fraction value. Nitrogen dilution constant varied less among and within subjects than other simple indices of washout efficiency. It was also more sensitive than other indices in detecting age-related loss of washout efficiency.