title: Time course and degree of hyperinflation with metronome-paced tachypnea in COPD patients.
abstract: In COPD patients, tachypnea should increase (dynamic) hyperinflation by shortening expiratory time. We developed a method to evaluate the time course and degree of dynamic hyperinflation during metronome-paced tachypnea. Fourteen patients with stable COPD (FEV(1) 43 +/- 13% predicted) were studied. Inspiratory capacity (IC) was measured breathing through a flow transducer. Subjects paced their respiratory rate (f(R)) at 20/min, 30/min and 40/min for 60-second periods in response to audible tones generated by a computer. IC measurements were obtained at baseline and after 30 and 60 seconds at each f(R). End-tidal carbon dioxide was monitored and f(R) was allowed to return to baseline between periods of tachypnea. Tachypnea produced reductions in IC of 200 +/- 240 ml, 380 +/- 330 ml and 540 +/- 300 ml after 30 seconds at 20/min, 30/min and 40/min, respectively. IC reduction at 60 seconds was similar to 30 seconds for each f(R). In patients with moderate-to-severe COPD, the dynamic hyperinflation induced by metronome-paced tachypnea was shown to occur rapidly and be complete by 30 seconds for a given f(R). Controlled increments in f(R) produced stepwise increases in dynamic hyperinflation. This standardized method could be a useful and easier method of assessing dynamic hyperinflation in COPD patients before and after therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology Research Laboratory, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1690, USA. sweigt@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: S Samuel
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Weigt
authors.forename: Marlon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abrazado
authors.forename: Eric C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Kleerup
authors.forename: Donald P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Tashkin
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007320:Inspiratory Capacity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D013997:Time Factors