V/Q Ratio: In a Nutshell (Nursing)

00:01 So, let's wrap up this video series.

00:03 The V/Q ratio represents the amount of air that reaches your alveoli divided by the amount of blood flow in the capillaries in your lungs.

00:12 A normal V/Q ratio is four, the air, divided by five, the flow to the blood, or 0.8.

00:21 So, a normal V/Q ratio in a perfect textbook world is 0.8.

00:26 The V/Q ratio that is abnormal is called a V/Q mismatch.

00:30 So, if it's not 0.8, it's larger or smaller, it's considered a V/Q mismatch.

00:36 Now, a high V/Q ratio is caused by compromised perfusion.

00:41 So, if the perfusion, the blood in the capillaries is lowered for any reason that causes a high V/Q ratio.

00:51 A low V/Q ratio is caused by some reason that's compromised the patient's ability to ventilate.

00:58 So, shunting causes unoxygenated blood from the right side of the heart to move through to the left side of the heart and therefore, out to the rest of the body.

01:08 Thank you for watching our video today.