Respiratory pattern, thoracoabdominal motion and ventilation in chronic airway obstruction.
BACKGROUND
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) present abnormal respiratory mechanics, but its relation to ventilation variables at rest is not fully understood.


METHODS
We evaluated breathing pattern, thoracoabdominal motion, and ventilation in moderate and severe COPD patients by means of respiratory inductive plethysmograph and analysis of respiratory metabolism in semirecumbent position at rest. Diaphragmatic movement was measured using radiographs.


RESULTS
COPD patients showed an increase in mean inspiratory flow, minute ventilation, dead space ventilation, oxygen and carbon dioxide ventilatory equivalents and reduction of respiratory times and pulse oxymetry. These findings were more pronounced in severe COPD. Changes in ventilatory efficiency were correlated with decreased respiratory times, reduced diaphragmatic movement, and lower oxygen uptake.


CONCLUSIONS
Rapid shallow breathing and reduced diaphragmatic movement have led to ventilatory inefficiency without changes in thoracoabdominal motion.
Fernandes
M
M
Physical Therapy Department, Heart Institute (InCor) of the Clinical Hospital of the São Paulo University Medical School, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguilar, 44, 2o andar, CEP 05403-00, São Paulo, Brazil. marcelo.fernandes@incor.usp.br
Cukier
A
A
Ambrosino
N
N
Leite
J J
JJ
Feltrim
M I Zanetti
MI
D000005:Abdomen; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013909:Thorax