Breathing pattern affects the airway exchange of heat, water, and soluble gases

The interaction of heat, water, and soluble gas exchange with the airway mucosa was studied for different breathing patterns using a computer model developed previously. The absorption of a highly soluble gas, such as alcohol, by the airway mucosa depends on mucus temperature and thickness and the convective mass transfer coefficient which, in turn, are influenced by breathing frequency and tidal volume. It is shown that increasing ventilation results in cooler mucus temperatures, thicker mucus layers, greater losses of heat, water and soluble gas, and lower soluble gas concentrations in the airway mucus and tissue layers