What You Need To Know About V/Q Mismatch
V/Q Mismatch Definition: A mismatch between the amount of oxygen available to your body and the amount it needs to function properly. The term “vitality” refers to how well a person functions, or lives.
If someone’s vitality is low then they will not survive long in their current condition.
What Is V/Q Ratio?
The v/q ratio is the number of red blood cells (RBC) per cubic centimeter of blood. It represents the amount of oxygen that each pound of tissue requires to maintain normal bodily functions such as breathing, heart rate, etc. A high v/q ratio indicates that tissues are taking up too much oxygen while a low v/q ratio indicates that tissues are taking up less than needed oxygen. When the v/q ratio is low, it means that tissues are taking up too little oxygen which results in hypoxia. Hypoxia causes the brain to shut down and can lead to death.
How Does V/Q Mismatch Affect Your Body?
When there is a mismatch between the amount of oxygen available to your body and the amount it needs to function properly, your body starts using up its reserves of energy rather than using them for other purposes. This can cause vital organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys to fail.
A v/q mismatch occurs when areas in the lungs are oxygen-deprived (such as in emphysema, severe asthma, or pneumonia) while other areas of the lungs receive an adequate supply of oxygen. This difference in oxygenation can lead to a v/q mismatch.
With a v/q mismatch, your body will not get enough oxygen to function properly. Without treatment, vital organs will eventually fail.
How is V/Q Mismatch Diagnosed?
The v/q mismatch is diagnosed by taking a medical history and performing a physical exam. In some cases, additional testing such as a chest x-ray, CT scan, or pulmonary function test may be ordered.
What Are the Treatments for V/Q Mismatch?
There are two types of treatment for a v/q mismatch: oxygen therapy and lung transplantation.
Oxygen Therapy: If you have a v/q mismatch, then you may need to use supplemental oxygen under medical supervision. This may be in the form of a small nasal cannula or a face mask.
Your doctor will determine whether or not oxygen supplementation is necessary.
Lung Transplantation: In some cases, a lung transplant may be necessary. A lung transplant involves removing both of your lungs and replacing them with healthy ones from an organ donor.
If your health is poor enough that you require a lung transplant, then you certainly will not survive without it.
A lung transplant is major surgery and there are many risks including infection and even failure of the new lungs. A lung transplant nearly always requires staying in the hospital for at least a month and sometimes even longer.
After you have recovered sufficiently, you will have to take medications to prevent your body from rejecting the new lungs and to prevent illness. These medications cannot be taken casually and often have to be given through an IV.
In order to prepare for a lung transplant, you will have to meet with a transplant coordinator who will help you determine if you are a good candidate as well as help you through the pre-transplant process. If you are a candidate for a lung transplant then the transplant coordinator will help you find a suitable donor.
In some cases, a family member may be a suitable donor. Otherwise, an organ donor database will be used to find an appropriate match. Transplant coordinators can be found at most major hospitals.
Other Treatments: In some cases, an interventional pulmonologist may suggest other treatments for a v/q mismatch. For example, a lung perfusion procedure may be used to correct the v/q mismatch in people who have severe emphysema but are not in immediate danger of death.
In some cases, the v/q mismatch can be treated with surgery; however, this should only be performed in certain cases and by a qualified physician.
LungsNerd Recommends New Patient, Online Medic Reviews
For people interested in finding a lung transplant center or a physician, we recommend visiting lungs.net.
This website allows you to find the most experienced transplant centers and physicians in your area. It also allows users to leave reviews about their experiences with specific doctors and hospitals. Although not all information on this site may be accurate, it should still provide you with a good starting point when it comes to healthcare.
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