In a patient with chronic bronchitis, how does the ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) ratio typically change?
Answer:
V/Q decrease.
Explanation:
In chronic bronchitis, the airways become narrowed and obstructed, reducing the ability to ventilate the lungs properly. This leads to a decrease in ventilation (V) while perfusion (Q) remains relatively unaffected. The mismatch between decreased ventilation and normal perfusion results in a low V/Q ratio. This mismatch contributes to the hypoxemia (low oxygen levels) observed in patients with chronic bronchitis, a key feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
