Analysis of expiratory pattern for monitoring bronchial obstruction in school‐age children

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
This study was designed to assess the validity of the percent of volume expired at tidal peak flow (dV/Vt) as an indicator of bronchial obstruction in school-age children. We analyzed 126 dV/Vt ratios and compared them with spirometric and plethysmographic results measured in 24 healthy (14 males) and 60 asthmatic (41 males) children; 42 of them underwent measurements before and after bronchial challenge with histamine. The two groups differed in resistance, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), and forced expiratory flows, as percents of predicted (FEV1: 94.6 ± 2.4% in controls vs 86.7 ± 1.6% in asthmatics; Pt. The dV/Vt was found to correlate with FEV1 (r=0.58, Pr=0.57, Pt after histamine was significantly correlated (r=0.61, P1 and other lung function parameters. We conclude that dV/Vt is a good indicator of bronchial obstruction, as useful in school-age children as in adults and infants, with no need for the subject's cooperation. Pediatr Pulmonol 1991; 10:6–10.