Determination of resonance frequency of the respiratory system in respiratory distress syndrome. (9/1287)

AIM: To measure tidal volume delivery produced by high frequency oscillation (HFO) at a range of frequencies including the resonance frequency. METHODS: Eighteen infants with respiratory distress syndrome were recruited (median gestation 28.7 weeks). Each was ventilated at frequencies between 8 and 30 Hertz. Phase analysis was performed at various points of the respiratory cycle. HFO was provided by a variable speed piston device. Resonance frequency was determined from the phase relation between the cyclical movements of the piston and pressure changes at the airway opening. Tidal volume was measured using a jacket plethysmograph. RESULTS: The results were most reproducible when analysis was performed at the end of inspiration (within 1 Hz in nine out of 10 cases). Comparison between tidal volume delivery at 10 Hz and resonance frequency was made in 10 subjects. Delivery was significantly higher at resonance than at 10 Hertz (mean percentage increase 92%, range 9-222%). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings suggest that there is improved volume delivery at resonance frequency.  (+info)

'Alveolar recruitment strategy' improves arterial oxygenation during general anaesthesia. (10/1287)

Abnormalities in gas exchange during general anaesthesia are caused partly by atelectasis. Inspiratory pressures of approximately 40 cm H2O are required to fully re-expand healthy but collapsed alveoli. However, without PEEP these re-expanded alveoli tend to collapse again. We hypothesized that an initial increase in pressure would open collapsed alveoli; if this inspiratory recruitment is combined with sufficient end-expiratory pressure, alveoli will remain open during general anaesthesia. We tested the effect of an 'alveolar recruitment strategy' on arterial oxygenation and lung mechanics in a prospective, controlled study of 30 ASA II or III patients aged more than 60 yr allocated to one of three groups. Group ZEEP received no PEEP. The second group received an initial control period without PEEP, and then PEEP 5 cm H2O was applied. The third group received an increase in PEEP and tidal volumes until a PEEP of 15 cm H2O and a tidal volume of 18 ml kg-1 or a peak inspiratory pressure of 40 cm H2O was reached. PEEP 5 cm H2O was then maintained. There was a significant increase in median PaO2 values obtained at baseline (20.4 kPa) and those obtained after the recruitment manoeuvre (24.4 kPa) at 40 min. This latter value was also significantly higher than PaO2 measured in the PEEP (16.2 kPa) and ZEEP (18.7 kPa) groups. Application of PEEP also had a significant effect on oxygenation; no such intra-group difference was observed in the ZEEP group. No complications occurred. We conclude that during general anaesthesia, the alveolar recruitment strategy was an efficient way to improve arterial oxygenation.  (+info)

A low concentration of nitrous oxide reduces dyspnoea produced by a combination of hypercapnia and severe elastic load. (11/1287)

We have measured how a low concentration of nitrous oxide affected respiratory sensation and ventilation. Severe dyspnoea was induced in nine normal subjects by a combination of hypercapnia and inspiratory elastic load (50 cm H2O litre-1). Subjects were asked to rate their sensation of respiratory discomfort using a visual analogue scale (VAS) while breathing either 20% nitrous oxide or 20% nitrogen gas mixture. We compared the effects of each gas mixture on respiratory sensation and ventilation using steady-state values of ventilatory variables and VAS scores obtained before, during and after inhalation of each gas mixture. Inhalation of 20% nitrous oxide reduced the sensation of respiratory discomfort from a median VAS score of 6.5 (range 5.0-8.1) before inhalation to 3.6 (2.4-5.9) during inhalation (P < 0.05). There was no significant change in minute ventilation but tidal volume increased during inhalation of 20% nitrogen did not alter VAS scores or ventilatory variables. We found that a low concentration of nitrous oxide greatly alleviated the intensity of dyspnoea without changing respiratory load compensation.  (+info)

Cardiopulmonary responses of middle-aged men without cardiopulmonary disease to steady-rate positive and negative work performed on a cycle ergometer. (12/1287)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Understanding physiological responses to negative work allows therapists to be more knowledgeable when they prescribe this form of exercise. The physiological responses of 12 men without cardiopulmonary disease, aged 39 to 65 years (X=49.7, SD=9.3), to negative work (eccentric muscle contractions) and to positive work (concentric muscle contractions) were compared. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Subjects performed the 2 types of work on a motorized cycle ergometer at pedaling frequencies of 35, 55, and 75 rpm with a constant power output of 60 W. Steady-rate values of oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR), minute ventilation (VE), tidal volume (VT), and breathing frequency (fb) were obtained during 6 test conditions (positive and negative work at each of the 3 pedaling frequencies). RESULTS: Values for all measures were greater during positive work than during negative work, except for fb. During positive work, values for all variables were greatest at 75 rpm, except for fb. During negative work, VO2 and HR were greater at 75 and 35 rpm than at 55 rpm, and VE and VT were greater at 75 rpm than at 55 rpm. Breathing frequency was not different among pedaling frequencies. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: The results confirmed that negative work performed on a cycle ergometer is associated with low metabolic cost in older men without cardiopulmonary disease. Although VE was determined primarily by changes in VT during negative work, a comparable disproportionate increase in fb was observed at the start of negative work. Such changes in breathing patterns have implications for the prescription of negative work for patients with lung disease.  (+info)

Uptake of 10 polar organic solvents during short-term respiration. (13/1287)

Respiratory uptake was investigated for 10 polar organic solvents with high blood/air partition coefficients (lambda(blood/air)): ethyl acetate (lambda(blood/air), 77), methyl iso-butyl ketone (90), methyl acetate (90), methyl propyl ketone (150), acetone (245), iso-pentyl alcohol (381), iso-propyl alcohol (848), methyl alcohol (2590), ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE, 7970), and propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME, 12380). Test-air concentrations (Cinh) were 25 to 200 ppm. Four healthy male volunteers inhaled the test air for 10 min at rest and then room air for 5 min. The percentage of solvent in the end-exhaled air and in the mixed-exhaled air increased after the start of the test-air respiration, and reached a quasi-steady-state level within a few min. The speeds of these increases at the start of the test-air respiration became lower as lambda(blood/air) increased. The mean uptakes (U) for the last five min of the test air respiration were 67.3, 52.9, 60.4, 53.0, 52.6, 63.0, 60.3, 60.8, 79.7, and 81.3%, respectively, for ethyl acetate, methyl iso-butyl ketone, methyl acetate, methyl propyl ketone, acetone, iso-pentyl alcohol, iso-propyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, EGBE and PGME. Thus, U values of the alcohols were higher than those of the ketones and lower than the glycol ethers. The overall view, except for esters, showed that U increased with lambda(water/air) increases. This tendency can be explained by a hypothesis that solvent absorbed in the mucus layer of the respiratory tract is removed by the bronchial blood circulation. U values of ethyl acetate and methyl acetate were higher than those of methyl iso-butyl ketone and methyl propyl ketone, though the lambda(blood/air) values of these esters were nearly equal to those of the ketones. For the respiration of the esters, their metabolites, ethyl alcohol and methyl alcohol, were detected in the exhaled air. The exhalation percentage of the metabolites increased after the start of test-air respiration and reached a quasi-steady-state level of 2 and 3%, respectively, by the 5th min. These data suggest that removal of the solvent via metabolism in the wall tissue of the respiratory tract plays an important role for the esters.  (+info)

Small tidal volume ventilation using a zero deadspace tracheal tube. (14/1287)

The zero deadspace tracheal tube (ZEDS-TT) is a double-lumen endobronchial tube with a truncated bronchial limb. Functionally it is unrelated to the familiar endobronchial tube used in lung isolation surgery. It is placed in the same position as a regular tracheal tube and, by means of special connectors, one limb is used for inspiration and the other for expiration, thereby greatly reducing anatomical and apparatus deadspace. In this study, we have compared respiratory and ventilatory effects of reduction of tidal volume (VT) via a single-lumen tracheal tube and the ZEDS-TT during controlled ventilation with a Siemens Elema 900C Servo ventilator. Eleven consenting adult patients (ASA I and II) undergoing elective peripheral surgery were studied. Starting at a VT value of 10 ml kg-1, data were recorded for each tube type. VT was reduced by 2.5 ml kg-1 every 10 min and stabilized data recorded. Minute volume was kept constant by increasing ventilatory frequency at each reduction in VT. We found that the ZEDS-TT produced a significant reduction in PaCO2 and airway pressure for any VT used, while maintaining oxygenation.  (+info)

Non-chemical inhibition of respiratory motor output during mechanical ventilation in sleeping humans. (15/1287)

1. To determine the magnitude and time course of changes in respiratory motor output caused by non-chemical influences, six sleeping subjects underwent assist-control mechanical ventilation (ACMV) at increased tidal volume (VT). During ACMV, end-tidal PCO2 (PET,CO2) was either held at normocapnic levels (PET,CO2, 0.6-1.1 mmHg > control) by adding CO2 to the inspirate, or it was allowed to fall (hypocapnia). 2. Each sleeping subject underwent several repeat trials of twenty-five ACMV breaths (VT, 1.3 or 2.1 times control; peak flow rate, 30-40 l min-1; inspiratory time, +/- 0.3 s of control). The end-tidal to arterial PCO2 difference throughout normocapnic ACMV at raised VT was unchanged from eupnoeic levels during studies in wakefulness. 3. Normocapnic ACMV at both the smaller and larger increases in VT decreased the amplitude of respiratory motor output, as judged by decreased maximum rate of rise of mask pressure (Pm) (mean dPm/dtmax, 46-68% of control), reduced diaphragmatic EMG (to 55% of control) and reduced VT on the first spontaneous breath after ACMV (to 70% of control). Expiratory time (TE) was slightly prolonged (13-32% > control). This inhibition of amplitude of respiratory motor output progressed over the first five to seven ventilator cycles, was maintained over the remaining 18-20 cycles and persisted for three to five spontaneous breaths immediately following cessation of ACMV. 4. Hypocapnia did not further inhibit respiratory motor output amplitude beyond the effect of normocapnic ACMV at high VT, but did cause highly variable prolongation of TE when PET,CO2 was reduced by greater than 3 mmHg for at least five ventilator cycles. 5. These data in sleeping humans support the existence of a significant, non-chemical inhibitory influence of ACMV at increased VT and positive pressure upon the amplitude of respiratory motor output; this effect is manifested both during and following normocapnic mechanical ventilation.  (+info)

Respiratory action of capsaicin microinjected into the nucleus of the solitary tract: involvement of vanilloid and tachykinin receptors. (16/1287)

1. The respiratory response to microinjection of capsaicin into the commissural nucleus of the solitary tract (cNTS) of urethane-anaesthetized rats was investigated in the absence and presence of the competitive vanilloid (capsaicin) antagonist, capsazepine, and selective tachykinin NK1, NK2 and NK3 antagonists (RP 67580, SR 48968 and SR 142801, respectively). 2. Microinjection of capsaicin reduced respiratory frequency but not tidal volume (VT), leading to an overall reduction in minute ventilation (VE). The effect was dose-dependent between 0.5 and 2 nmol capsaicin. Doses greater than 2 nmol produced apnoea. Tachyphylaxis was observed following repeated injection of capsaicin (1 nmol, 30 min apart). 3. Capsazepine (1 nmol) had no effect on frequency or VT when injected alone but completely blocked the respiratory response to capsaicin (1 nmol). 4. RP 67580 (1 but not 5 nmol) alone depressed frequency and VT slightly. Moreover, RP 67580 appeared to potentiate the bradypnoeic effect of capsaicin. In contrast, SR 48968 and SR 142801 (1 and 5 nmol) alone had no significant effect on respiration. However, both agents significantly attenuated the reduction in frequency produced by capsaicin. 5. In conclusion, microinjection of capsaicin into the cNTS decreases overall ventilation, primarily by reducing frequency. The action of capsaicin appears from the data to be mediated by vanilloid receptors since it is blocked by the competitive vanilloid antagonist capsazepine and is subject to tachyphylaxis. However, since NK2 (SR 48968) and NK3 (SR 142801) receptor antagonists block the actions of capsaicin, we propose that capsaicin acts also by releasing tachykinins from central afferent terminals in the cNTS.  (+info)