A NEW METHOD FOR MEASURING AIRWAY RESISTANCE IN MAN USING A BODY PLETHYSMOGRAPH: VALUES IN NORMAL SUBJECTS AND IN PATIENTS WITH RESPIRATORY DISEASE 1

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Abstract
A new method is reported for the objective and specific measurement of airway resistance in human subjects. It requires the measurement of airflow and of alveolar pressure during airflow. The alveolar pressure is measured by determining, by means of a body plethysmograph, the volume of compression and decompression of alveolar gas during expiration and inspiration. Normal subjects tested by this method had a mean airway resistance of 1.5 cm H2O/l/second (range 0.6 - 2.4) at a flow rate of 1 I/second, panting. A preliminary study was made of the airway resistance in 30 patients; the range of resistances was 0.6 - 10.8 cm H2O/l/second. This method is thought to be applicable to measurement of airway resistance in patients, evaluation of therapeutic procedures designed to relieve airway obstruction, separation of airway resistance from tissue resistance, and study of multiple factors that may affect airway resistance.