[Manual abdominal compression for the detection of expiratory flow limitation].
BACKGROUND
Expiratory flow limitation (EFL) is a characteristic feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and leads to dynamic hyperinflation (DH) which is a major source of dyspnoea, particularly during exercise.


BACKGROUND
A new technique for the detection of EFL, based on manual compression of the abdomen (MCA), was assessed both in normal subjects and patients with COPD. MCA was always associated with a moderate increase in pleural pressure and allowed the detection of EFL in a reproducible manner, in both the seated and supine postures. The technique was well tolerated. It was also a reliable method for the detection of EFL during exercise since EFL detection was effectively associated with the development of DH. Finally, MCA was also compared to NEP in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) and in these patients, MCA invariably increased expiratory flow whereas the NEP method produced flow limitation in some cases because of upper airway collapse.


CONCLUSIONS
EFL detection with MCA may be clinically useful since EFL is a determinant of dyspnoea, affects ventilatory response to exercise as well as maximum exercise capacity.


CONCLUSIONS
MCA is a reliable technique for the detection of EFL in different positions, during resting breathing or exercise, requiring neither special equipment nor patient cooperation.
Abdel Kafi
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Service de Pneumologie et de Soins Intensifs, CHU Saint-Pierre, Bruxelles, Belgique. sophia_abdelkafi@stpierre-bru.be
Leduc
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Sergysels
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Ninane
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D000005:Abdomen; D003948:Diagnostic Techniques, Respiratory System; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; D006801:Humans; D011312:Pressure; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*