An ICU patient develops acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), increasing alveolar membrane thickness and decreasing surface area. Which consequence follows for blood gas transport?

💡 Explanation

ARDS causes thickened alveolar membranes, reducing the surface area available for diffusion. Because Fick's Law of Diffusion states that diffusion is proportional to surface area and inversely proportional to thickness, oxygen diffusion decreases. Therefore, oxygen transfer is impaired, rather than enhanced CO2 diffusion or hemoglobin saturation which are dependent on concentration gradients.

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