title: Flow volume loops in patients with goiters.
abstract: Plain radiology is the standard means of assessing upper airway obstruction in patients with goiters. Flow volume loop curves will provide additional information, because they allow a quantitative assessment of airflow dynamics in the respiratory cycle. Fifty-one patients had flow volume loops performed before and after thyroidectomy. There was a significant increase in the maximum inspiratory flow rate (3.9 +/- 0.2 versus 4.9 +/- 0.2 L/second, p less than 0.01) after thyroidectomy. Eight of twelve patients with normal tracheal radiology had improved airflow dynamics in the postoperative period. The flow volume loop curve is a simple noninvasive means of assessing airflow dynamics in patients with goiters and may be superior to conventional radiology.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Geraghty
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Coveney
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiernan
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: O'Higgins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008448:Maximal Expiratory Flow Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D011859:Radiography; D013965:Thyroidectomy