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M Cauberghs

Publications and source records attributed to M Cauberghs.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Total respiratory resistance and reactance in patients with upper airway obstruction.

In 18 patients with upper airway obstruction, we measured dynamic lung volumes, maximal flows, airway resistance (Raw), and total respiratory resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs) at various frequencies by means of a forced oscillation method. Patients were classified according to the site and the type of the obstruction. The values of Raw, Rrs and Xrs were tightly correlated and reflected the overall importance of the obstruction. In comparison with patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease the values of Rrs tend to be higher and to be influenced more by support of the cheeks during the measurement. These differences are not diagnostic, however.

Airway Resistance↗

Effect of rib cage and abdominal restriction on total respiratory resistance and reactance.

In 14 healthy male subjects we studied the effects of rib cage and abdominal strapping on lung volumes, airway resistance (Raw), and total respiratory resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs). Rib cage, as well as abdominal, strapping caused a significant decrease in vital capacity (respectively, -36 and -34%), total lung capacity (TLC) (-31 and -27%), functional residual capacity (FRC) (-28 and -28%), and expiratory reserve volume (-40 and -48%) and an increase in specific airway conductance (+24 and +30%) and in maximal expiratory flow at 50% of control TLC (+47 and +42%). The decrease of residual volume (RV) was significant (-12%) with rib cage strapping only. Abdominal strapping resulted in a minor overall increase in Rrs, whereas rib cage strapping produced a more marked increase at low frequencies; thus a frequency dependence of Rrs was induced. A similar pattern, but with lower absolute values, of Rrs was obtained by thoracic strapping when the subject was breathing at control FRC. Xrs was decreased, especially at low frequencies, with abdominal strapping and even more with thoracic strapping; thus the resonant frequency of the respiratory system was shifted toward higher frequencies. Partitioning Rrs and Xrs into resistance and reactance of lungs and chest wall demonstrated that the different effects of chest wall and abdominal strapping on Rrs and Xrs reflect changes mainly of chest wall mechanics.

Abdomen↗

Forced oscillation technique: comparison of two devices.

The respiratory impedances in healthy subjects and patients with advanced obstructive lung disease were measured between 2 and 32 Hz, using two forced oscillation techniques: the setup used previously by Grimby et al. (J. Clin. Invest. 47: 1455-1465, 1968) and a modified device in which the pneumotachograph is replaced by a 2-m-long tube and the ratio of pressures at both ends of the tube is determined. The advantages of the latter device are that 1) its impedance and frequency characteristics can be predicted by classical physics, 2) the only requirement for correct measurements are a match of the pressure transducers, and 3) high-pass filters are not needed to suppress the influence of breathing. On the other hand, the device is more sensitive to the turbulences induced by the subject's own breathing. This drawback can be avoided by interposing a piece of tubing between the mouth and proximal pressure recording site.

Airway Resistance↗

Comparison of two forced oscillation techniques.

The forced oscillation technique developed by Korn et al. in 1979 (Siregnost FD 5) overestimates the measured resistances by about 20% in the range of resistance values met in healthy subjects and in patients. This is due to an overestimation of the impedance of the side tubing used for calibration. In addition, the device that we investigated introduces a phase shift of 9 degrees between pressure and flow.

Airway Resistance↗

Mechanical properties of the upper airway.

The series and shunt components of the impedance of the upper airway (Zuaw) were evaluated from measurements obtained during a Valsalva maneuver by means of a modified forced oscillation technique. When the cheeks are supported, the upper airway can be represented by a single distributed transmission line. The homogeneity of this line was confirmed by measuring separately Zuaw and the impedance of the mouth. Correction of the impedance of the respiratory system, determined by means of the forced oscillations technique, for the shunt properties of Zuaw results in some modifications of the frequency dependence of resistance (Rrs) in healthy adults and in marked changes of the absolute values of Rrs in children and in patients with obstructive lung disease.

Adolescent↗

Partitioning of pulmonary impedance in excised human and canine lungs.

Partitioning of pulmonary resistance of 15 excised human and 5 canine lungs by means of a retrograde catheter demonstrated that the share of peripheral airways (with an ID of 2.4 mm or less) and of lung tissue in pulmonary resistance was markedly larger (44-96%) in humans than in dogs (41-59%). Similar percentages were found in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The variations of resistance with volume during deflation and inflation of the lungs were due primarily to variations of peripheral resistance (Rp). The latter systematically increased at high and low lung volumes. Higher Rp values, with a more pronounced frequency dependence, were met in patients with COPD. A morphometrical study showed an inverse relationship between the value of Rp and the mean diameter of the terminal bronchioles, provided the airways density was taken into account.

Adult↗

Failure of body plethysmography in bronchial asthma.

To determine whether acute changes in lung volumes in asthma are accurately measured by body plethysmography, we induced acute changes in lung mechanics with acetylcholine in nine asthmatic patients and with salbutamol in six others. Total lung capacity (TLC) was measured with a body plethysmograph and derived from mouth pressure vs. box volume (Vbox) changes (TLCm) or esophageal pressure vs. Vbox changes (TLCes). In six patients (4 after acetylcholine) TLCm was significantly (P less than 0.05) different from prechallenge values (differences ranged from 0.29 to 1.55 liters), but TLCes did not change. In three additional patients both TLCm (mean difference 0.62 liter) and TLCes (mean difference 0.43 liter) changed (P less than 0.05), but no changes occurred in six others. An electrical analog of the lung demonstrates in the presence of intrathoracic airway obstruction overestimation of thoracic gas volume and TLC. This is due to the presence of a compliant extrathoracic airway that acts as a shunt impedance. The magnitude of the overestimation of TGV appears to depend on the distensibility of the extrathoracic airway and the degree of airway obstruction. We conclude that the plethysmographic method may introduce important errors in lung volume measurements in the obstructive syndrome, especially a severe one. Some of previously reported acute increases in TLC in asthmatics may be artifactual.

Acetylcholine↗

Measurement of total respiratory impedance via the endotracheal tube; a model study.

The feasibility of applying the forced oscillation technique to determine the impedance of the respiratory system in intubated subjects was investigated on a model. This showed that the losses in kinetic energy occurring at the end of the endotracheal tube are not important when the flow is oscillatory (frequencies of 2 Hz and higher). Also, if the respiratory system is sufficiently linear, the alinearity of the tube can be dealt with if its mechanical characteristics, as well as the size of the oscillatory flow, are known. The tube impedance at that flow can then be subtracted from the total impedance of the tube connected to the respiratory system. When the driving signal is a complex wave containing several frequencies, the impedance of the tube can still be determined (and thus subtracted) by performing the measurements at various amplitudes of the driving flow and by extrapolating the resistance values (corresponding to those amplitudes) to zero flow. The latter is possible only if the measurements are performed during an apnea. To avoid these complexities, pressure can be measured at the outlet, rather than at the entrance of the tube. Accurate measurements of respiratory impedance can thus be obtained, whether the flow is determined at the entrance or outlet of the tube, even with a complex driving signal.

Airway Resistance↗