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Reproducibility of forced expiratory flow and volume measurements in infants with bronchiolitis
Author(s) -
Modl Manfred,
Eber Ernst,
Weinhandl Elisabeth,
Gruber Wilfried,
Zach Maximilian S.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-0496(199912)28:6<429::aid-ppul8>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - medicine , bronchiolitis , reproducibility , lung volumes , air trapping , functional residual capacity , pulmonary function testing , lung function , vital capacity , airway , cardiology , anesthesia , lung , respiratory system , diffusing capacity , statistics , mathematics
The end‐tidal rapid thoracoabdominal compression (ETRTC) technique is an established method for lung function testing in infancy. Previous work in healthy infants, however, has shown that measurements with the newly developed raised volume rapid thoracoabdominal compression (RVRTC) technique are more reproducible than those with the ETRTC technique. So far, reproducibility of the two techniques has not been compared in infants with acute airway disease. Twenty‐three infants with acute viral bronchiolitis underwent lung function assessment with both the ETRTC and the RVRTC technique. A series of 8–10 measurements with each technique was done in randomized order. Forced expired volumes at 0.5, 0.75, and 1 sec after chest compression (FEV 0.5 , FEV 0.75 , and FEV 1.0 ) were measured with the RVRTC technique; maximum expiratory flow at functional residual capacity (V′ maxFRC ) was measured with the ETRTC technique. Group mean intrasubject coefficients of variation (CV) were 4.84% for FEV 0.5 , 5.01% for FEV 0.75 , 5.43% for FEV 1.0 , and 13.79% for V′ maxFRC , respectively. Differences between FEV parameters were statistically insignificant, whereas the difference between each FEV parameter and V′ maxFRC was highly significant ( P < 0.001). In infants with acute viral bronchiolitis, RVRTC measurements have significantly less intraindividual variability than flow rates assessed with the conventional ETRTC technique. This finding provides the basis for assessing disease course and effects of therapeutic interventions on an individual basis. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1999; 28:429–435. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.