title: Methodological aspects of flow-volume studies in infants.
abstract: Although valuable information is being obtained using new techniques to assess infant respiratory mechanics, there have been several concerns about the methodology. These relate to the possibility that chloral hydrate may affect flow-volume measurements by altering upper airway caliber. There is also the possibility that physiological changes may be induced by inhalation of non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic nebulized solutions. The aim of this study was to investigate these phenomena in a group of normal infants. Thoracic gas volume was determined and respiratory mechanics measured using the passive and forced expiratory flow-volume techniques. Respiratory function was assessed in infants before and after 1) sleep was induced by administration of chloral hydrate (n = 10, mean age, 21 weeks); 2) inhalation of nebulized saline (n = 10, mean age, 19 weeks); 3) inhalation of nebulized salbutamol (n = 7, mean age, 22 weeks). A fall in tidal volume was found following administration of chloral hydrate but no significant change was seen in any other respiratory parameter. In addition, no change was seen in any parameter post-saline or salbutamol nebulization. This study provides data which support several basic assumptions made about the infant flow-volume techniques and should provide useful background information for future studies using these techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Landau
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: LeSouëf
mesh_terms: D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D002697:Chloral Hydrate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D011897:Random Allocation; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002697:Chloral Hydrate; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D000420:Albuterol