Dyspnea and respiratory muscle strength in end-stage liver disease

Table 4 Arterial blood gases and pattern of breathing of 40 end-stage liver disease patients, according to presence or absence of ascites

	All patients (n = 40)	Ascites (n = 17)	Non-ascites (n = 23)	P value
pH	7.49 ± 0.04	7.50 ± 0.04	7.48 ± 0.04	0.216
PaO2, kPa	12.3 ± 1.3	12.0 ± 1.5	12.3 ± 1.3	0.508
PaCO2, kPa	4.4 ± 0.5	4.3 ± 0.5	4.5 ± 0.4	0.261
VE, L/min	11.5 ± 3.5	12.7 ± 3.2	10.6 ± 3.5	0.065
VT, L	0.735 ± 0.287	0.800 ± 0.255	0.686 ± 0.305	0.218
TE, s	2.26 ± 0.70	2.25 ± 0.68	2.26 ± 0.74	0.953
TI, s	1.64 ± 0.40	1.65 ± 0.40	1.64 ± 0.42	0.941
RR, bpm	16 ± 4	17 ± 5	16 ± 4	0.938
VT/TI, L/s	0.449 ± 0.129	0.496 ± 0.130	0.414 ± 0.119	0.044
TI/TTOT	0.43 ± 0.05	0.43 ± 0.06	0.42 ± 0.05	0.928

Values are obtained in a sitting position. Statistical significance tested with Student’s t test between ascites and non-ascites groups. PaO₂: Arterial oxygen tension; PaCO₂: Arterial carbon dioxide tension; V_E: Minute ventilation; V_T: Tidal volume; T_E: Duration of expiration; T_I: Duration of inspiration; RR: Respiratory rate; bpm: Breaths per minute; T_TOT: Total cycle duration; V_T/T_I: Mean inspiratory flow; T_I/T_TOT: Duty cycle.