It has been recognized that the proper matching of ventilation and perfusion within the lung is essential for the efficient exchange of gases following open heart surgery. Physiologic shunt reflects the amount of blood going to lung units with inadequate ventilation and these are also areas of the lung with adequate ventilation but inadequate blood flow. This can be quantified by measuring physiological dead space. From January to August 1985, The physiologic dead space and shunt during postoperative course had been taken in 30 patients of open heart surgery in Soonchunhyang University Hospital. Twenty cases had congenital heart disease and acquired valvular heart disease were noticed in 10 cases. The physiological dead space and shunt during postoperative periods were calculated and we made 5 items of conclusion: 1. There is high probability of ventilation-perfusion mismatch in the acquired heart disease group compared to the congenital group. 2. Duration of the CPB can exert significant influences in the physiological dead space but less in the shunt fraction. 3. There is positive relationship between Qs/Qt and Vd/Vt in the group B [CPB>90 min.] but less reliable in correlation. 4. Perfusion impairment is more significant in the diminished pulmonic blood flow group compared to the increased pulmonic blood flow [Qp/Qs>2.0] group. 5. There is no significant ventilation-perfusion mismatch within the lung during all postoperative courses.