An innovative lung model for multiple breath washout testing in health and disease.

Anagnostopoulou, Pinelopi; Vomsattel, Sarah; Kentgens, Anne-Christiane; Guidi, Marisa; Binggeli, Severin; Kohler, Lena; Singer, Florian; Latzin, Philipp; Obrist, Dominik (2019). An innovative lung model for multiple breath washout testing in health and disease. Clinical biomechanics, 66, pp. 74-80. Elsevier 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2017.11.002

Text 1-s2.0-S0268003317302802-main.pdf - Published Version Restricted to registered users only Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (566kB)

BACKGROUND

Multiple breath washout (MBW) is a lung function test that identifies the degree of ventilation inhomogeneity (VI) in the lungs. In vitro validation of MBW devices is recommended. So far, plastic lung models for MBW validation ignored variable degrees of VI. Our primary aim was to create a plastic lung model applicable for physiological lung volumes and variable VI.

METHODS

A plastic box divided in two chambers was filled with water and ventilated in various lung volumes and respiratory rates. A ventilator was used for efficient gas distribution (model with low VI). An additional divider was inserted to create a model with high VI. The model was connected to commercial MBW devices and measurements were performed using different tracer gases and conditions. Primary outcome was the precision of generated functional residual capacity (FRC) and the ability to generate variable VI. The latter was estimated by lung clearance index (LCI) and expiratory phase III slopes (SIII). LCI was also compared to a mathematical model.

FINDINGS

The intra-test variability for FRC was minimal, mean(SD) coefficient of variation 0.96(0.63)%, using different tracer gases under different conditions. Compared to the model with low VI, in the model with high VI LCI and washout SIII were significantly increased. LCI compared well to the mathematical model.

INTERPRETATION

This novel lung model shows excellent precision in lung volumes and VI estimates independent of tracer gases and conditions. The model can mimic the lungs of patients with uneven gas distribution.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

5 since deposited on 21 Dec 2017
0 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item