Influence of the "squeeze jacket" on lung function in young infants.
The possible influence of the "squeeze jacket" on measurements of lung function in young infants was examined in 29 infants. In 19 infants, a comparison was made between jacket off and jacket on with the arms held inside the jacket. With the jacket on (arms inside), we found a significant reduction in thoracic gas volume (TGV). Passive compliance of the respiratory system (Crs) was also significantly decreased, while the resistance of the respiratory system (Rrs) was significantly increased. An additional 10 infants were studied comparing jacket off with jacket on (arms outside) and jacket on (arms inside). TGV was significantly less with the jacket on (arms inside) compared to jacket off and jacket on (arms outside), while Rrs and mouth pressure at end-inspiratory occlusion (Pm) were significantly increased. There was no difference between jacket off and jacket on (arms outside). These observations suggest that the squeeze jacket with the arms held at the infant's side inside the jacket exerts a restricting effect on chest and abdominal wall movement and leads to errors in the measurements. To avoid these potential errors, measurements should be made without the jacket on or with the arms held outside the jacket.
Steinbrugger
B
B
Professorial Department of Thoracic Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Lanigan
A
A
Raven
J M
JM
Olinsky
A
A
D000403:Airway Resistance; D003020:Clothing; D003187:Compliance; D005260:Female; D005740:Gases; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008449:Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curves; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000295:instrumentation; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D013909:Thorax / Q000502:physiology
D005740:Gases