The efficiency of oxygenation and the uniformity of the distribution of regional ventilation (Vr) to regional perfusion (Qr) along the vertical and horizontal axes was compared in anesthetized dogs between conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) and high-frequency ventilation (HFV) at 5.8, 15.0, and 29.8 Hz. Both CMV and HFV were adjusted to result in similar arterial CO2 tensions. The distribution of Vr/Qr during HFV at 5.8 Hz tended to be more uniform than during HFV at 15.0 or 29.8 Hz or during CMV. Consistent with this observation, arterial O2 tension (PaO2) tended to be higher during HFV at 5.8 Hz (means +/- SD, 90 +/- 9 Torr) than during HFV at 15.0 Hz (83 +/- 9 Torr) or 29.8 Hz (78 +/- 10 Torr); PaO2 was significantly higher during HFV at 5.8 Hz than during CMV (83 +/- 7 Torr).