A 55-Year-Old Man Is Brought to the Emergency Department Because

A 55-year-old man is brought to the emergency department because of sharp chest pain for the past 3 hours. He does not take any medications. He has smoked one pack of cigarettes daily for 35 years. Arterial blood gas analysis shows that the patient's alveolar-arterial gradient (PAO₂ - PaO₂) is markedly increased. Although the patient receives 100% oxygen via a face mask, she has persistent hypoxemia and respiratory distress.  Consequently, she is intubated and placed on mechanical ventilation with 100% oxygen and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) .  Results of arterial oxygen measurements are as follows: The patient's improved oxygenation following PEEP application is most likely due to a decrease in which of the following?

A) Anatomical dead space
B) Intrapulmonary shunt effect
C) Lung compliance
D) Pulmonary vascular resistance
E) Right-to-left intracardiac shunt

Correct Answer:

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