Effect of posture on the single-breath oxygen test in normal subjects

1976 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 474-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Cortese ◽  
J. R. Rodarte ◽  
K. Rehder ◽  
R. E. Hyatt

The effect of posture on phase III (alveolar nitrogen plateau) and phase IV (closing capacity) of the single-breath oxygen test was examined in 10 normal people. In part 1 of the study, subjects inspired and expired in the standing, supine, prone, and right lateral decubitus positions; there was no effect of posture on phase IV but slopes of phase III were higher when subjects were in the supine and lateral positions. In part 2, subjects inspired in the standing position and expired in one of the recumbent positions. Phase IV occurred infrequently except in the prone position (6 of 10 subj); slopes of phase III in part 2 were not consistently altered by changing posture. It is difficult to explain the failure of posture to alter phase IV solely on a model requiring a linear gradient of pleural pressure. The slope of phase III appears to depend more on the emptying patterns of small regions with widely varying volume-to-ventilation ratios than on gravity-dependent sequences of emptying. Finally, the data suggest a considerable similarity between the upright and prone positions in terms of lung filling and emptying.

1988 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 642-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Tomioka ◽  
S. Kubo ◽  
H. J. Guy ◽  
G. K. Prisk

To examine the mechanisms of lung filling and emptying, Ar-bolus and N2 single-breath washout tests were conducted in 10 anesthetized dogs (prone and supine) and in three of those dogs with body rotation. Transpulmonary pressure was measured simultaneously, allowing identification of the lung volume above residual volume at which there was an inflection point in the pressure-volume curve (VIP). Although phase IV for Ar was upward, phase IV for N2 was small and variable, especially in the prone position. No significant prone to supine differences in closing capacity for Ar were seen, indicating that airway closure was generated at the same lung volumes. The maximum deflections of phase IV for Ar and N2 from extrapolated phase III slopes were smaller in the prone position, suggesting more uniform tracer gas concentrations across the lungs. VIP was smaller than the closing volume for Ar, which is consistent with the effects of well-developed collateral ventilation in dogs. Body rotation tests in three dogs did not generally cause an inversion of phase III or IV. We conclude that in recumbent dogs regional distribution of ventilation is not primarily determined by the effect of gravity, but by lung, thorax, and mediastinum interactions and/or differences in regional mechanical properties of the lungs.


2004 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 675-682 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Rohdin ◽  
J. Petersson ◽  
M. Mure ◽  
R. W. Glenny ◽  
S. G. E. Lindahl ◽  
...  

When normal subjects are exposed to hypergravity [5 times normal gravity (5 G)] there is an impaired arterial oxygenation that is less severe in the prone compared with supine posture. We hypothesized that under these conditions the heterogeneities of ventilation and/or perfusion distributions would be less prominent when subjects were prone compared with supine. Expirograms from a combined rebreathing-single breath washout maneuver (Rohdin M, Sundblad P, and Linnarsson D. J Appl Physiol 96: 1470–1477, 2004) were analyzed for vital capacity (VC), phase III slope, and phase IV amplitude, to analyze heterogeneities in ventilation (Ar) and perfusion [CO2-to-Ar ratio (CO2/Ar)] distribution, respectively. During hypergravity, VC decreased more in the supine than in the prone position (ANOVA, P = 0.02). Phase III slope was more positive for Ar ( P = 0.003) and more negative for CO2/Ar ( P = 0.007) in the supine compared with prone posture at 5 G, in agreement with the notion of a more severe hypergravity-induced ventilation-perfusion mismatch in supine posture. Phase IV amplitude became lower in the supine than in the prone posture for both Ar ( P = 0.02) and CO2/Ar ( P = 0.004) during hypergravity as a result of the more reduced VC in the supine posture. We speculate that results of VC and phase IV amplitude are due to the differences in heart-lung interaction and diaphragm position between postures: a stable position of the heart and diaphragm in prone hypergravity, in contrast to supine in which the weight of the heart and a cephalad shift of the diaphragm compress lung tissue.


1984 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. S. Hurst ◽  
B. L. Graham ◽  
D. J. Cotton

We studied 10 symptom-free lifetime non-smokers and 17 smokers all with normal pulmonary function studies. All subjects performed single-breath N2 washout tests by either exhaling slowly (“slow maneuver”) from end inspiration (EI) to residual volume (RV) or exhaling maximally (“fast maneuver”) from EI to RV. After either maneuver, subjects then slowly inhaled 100% O2 to total lung capacity (TLC) and without breath holding, exhaled slowly back to RV. In the nonsmokers seated upright phase III slope of single-breath N2 test (delta N2/l) was lower (P less than 0.01) for the fast vs. the slow maneuver, but this difference disappeared when the subjects repeated the maneuvers in the supine position. In contrast, delta N2/l was higher for the fast vs. the slow maneuver (P less than 0.01) in smokers seated upright. For the slow maneuver, delta N2/l was similar between smokers and nonsmokers but for the fast maneuvers delta N2/l was higher in smokers than nonsmokers (P less than 0.01). We suggest that the fast exhalation to RV decreases delta N2/l in normal subjects by decreasing apex-to-base differences in regional ratio of RV to TLC (RV/TLC) but increases delta N2/l in smokers, because regional RV/TLC increases distal to sites of small airways obstruction when the expiratory flow rate is increased.


2002 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 1232-1238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher N. Mills ◽  
Chantal Darquenne ◽  
G. Kim Prisk

We studied the effects on aerosol bolus inhalations of small changes in convective inhomogeneity induced by posture change from upright to supine in nine normal subjects. Vital capacity single-breath nitrogen washout tests were used to determine ventilatory inhomogeneity change between postures. Relative to upright, supine phase III slope was increased 33 ± 11% (mean ± SE, P < 0.05) and phase IV height increased 25 ± 11% ( P < 0.05), consistent with an increase in convective inhomogeneity likely due to increases in flow sequencing. Subjects also performed 0.5-μm-particle bolus inhalations to penetration volumes (Vp) between 150 and 1,200 ml during a standardized inhalation from residual volume to 1 liter above upright functional residual capacity. Mode shift (MS) in supine posture was more mouthward than upright at all Vp, changing by 11.6 ml at Vp = 150 ml ( P < 0.05) and 38.4 ml at Vp = 1,200 ml ( P < 0.05). MS and phase III slope changes correlated positively at deeper Vp. Deposition did not change at any Vp, suggesting that deposition did not cause the MS change. We propose that the MS change results from increased sequencing in supine vs. upright posture.


1994 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 1494-1501 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. R. Soparkar ◽  
J. T. Mink ◽  
B. L. Graham ◽  
D. J. Cotton

The dynamic changes in CO concentration [CO] during a single breath could be influenced by topographic inhomogeneity in the lung or by peripheral inhomogeneity due to a gas mixing resistance in the gas phase of the lung or to serial gradients in gas diffusion. Ten healthy subjects performed single-breath maneuvers by slowly inhaling test gas from functional residual capacity to one-half inspiratory capacity and slowly exhaling to residual volume with target breath-hold times of 0, 1.5, 3, 6, and 9 s. We calculated the three-equation single-breath diffusing capacity of the lung for CO (DLSBCO-3EQ) from the mean [CO] in both the entire alveolar gas sample and in four successive equal alveolar gas samples. DLSBCO-3EQ from the entire alveolar gas sample was independent of breath-hold time. However, with 0 s of breath holding, from early alveolar gas samples DLSBCO-3EQ was reduced and from late alveolar gas samples it was increased. With increasing breath-hold time, DLSBCO-3EQ from the earliest alveolar gas sample rapidly increased, whereas from the last alveolar gas sample it rapidly decreased such that all values from the small alveolar gas samples approached DLSBCO-3EQ from the entire alveolar sample. These changes correlated with ventilation inhomogeneity, as measured by the phase III He concentration slope and the mixing efficiency, and were larger for maneuvers with inspired volumes to one-half inspiratory capacity vs. total lung capacity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1994 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 1719-1729 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. J. Guy ◽  
G. K. Prisk ◽  
A. R. Elliott ◽  
R. A. Deutschman ◽  
J. B. West

Gravity is known to cause inhomogeneity of ventilation. Nongravitational factors are also recognized, but their relative contribution is not understood. We therefore studied ventilatory inhomogeneity during sustained microgravity during the 9-day flight of Spacelab SLS-1. All seven crew members performed single-breath nitrogen washouts. They inspired a vital capacity breath of 100% oxygen with a bolus of argon at the start of inspiration, and the inspiratory and expiratory flow rates were controlled at 0.5 l/s. Control measurements in normal gravity (1 G) were made pre- and postflight in the standing and supine position. Compared with the standing 1-G measurements, there was a marked decrease in ventilatory inhomogeneity during microgravity, as evidenced by the significant reductions in cardiogenic oscillations, slope of phase III, and height of phase IV for nitrogen and argon. However, argon phase IV volume was not reduced, and considerable ventilatory inhomogeneity remained. For example, the heights of the cardiogenic oscillations during microgravity for nitrogen and argon were 44 and 24%, respectively, of their values at 1 G, whereas the slopes of phase III for nitrogen and argon were 78 and 29%, respectively, of those at 1 G. The presence of a phase IV in microgravity is strong evidence that airway closure still occurs in the absence of gravity. The results were qualitatively similar to those found previously during short periods of 0 G in parabolic flight.


1982 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 361-366
Author(s):  
L. Delaunois ◽  
R. Boileau ◽  
J. Diodatti ◽  
J. Gauthier ◽  
R. R. Martin

The regional distribution of a bolus of gas inhaled at residual volume (RV) is attributed to regional airway closure and is responsible for the phase IV of the single-breath washout during the following deflation. As bronchospasm increases the range of airway opening pressures through the lung, the regional distribution of the bolus could change with effects on the shape of the single-breath washout. We investigated the regional distribution of boluses inhaled at RV and their single-breath washouts during methacholine-induced bronchospasm in prone dogs. With increasing total lung resistance (RL) we first observed in five out of eight animals a preferential “redistribution” of the bolus to the upper caudal regions of the lung, which could be partially attributed to the increased lung volume at RV. When maximal RL was attained, the bolus was evenly distributed through all regions of the lung in these animals with disappearance of phase IV and increased slope of phase III, and a final decrease of tracer concentration at low lung volumes was observed. We conclude from these data that increased bronchomotor tone in dogs results in a less homogeneous intraregional distribution of the bolus with increased slope of phase III and in a more even interregional distribution leading to disappearance of phase IV. In severe bronchospasm the downward slope at low lung volume suggests intraregional closed lung units emptying through collateral pathways into still open neighboring units.


1981 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 1568-1573 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Berend ◽  
C. Skoog ◽  
W. M. Thurlbeck

Pressure-volume curves and simulated single-breath nitrogen tests were performed on 32 excised left human lungs and the slope of phase III, and phase IV plus minimal volume, expressed as percent of the lung volume at a transpulmonary pressure of 30 cmH2O (closing capacity), was calculated. The lungs were graded as to the degree of emphysema and degree of peripheral airways disease. Peripheral airway dimensions were also measured. The closing capacity expressed as percent predicted in vivo was significantly correlated with the total pathological scores (P less than 0.01) and inflammation scores (P less than 0.01) as well as the transpulmonary pressures at the onset of phase IV (P less than 0.01). Correlations with the emphysema grade were not significant. The slopes of phase III were highly variable even among normal lungs and could not be shown to correlate with airways disease or emphysema.


1993 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 927-932 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Cotton ◽  
M. B. Prabhu ◽  
J. T. Mink ◽  
B. L. Graham

In normal seated subjects we increased single-breath ventilation inhomogeneity by changing both the preinspiratory lung volume and breath-hold time and examined the ensuing effects on two different techniques of measuring the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO). We measured the mean single-breath DLCO using the three-equation method (DLCOSB-3EQ) and also measured DLCO over discrete intervals during exhalation by the "intrabreath" method (DLCOexhaled). We assessed the distribution of ventilation using the normalized phase III slope for helium (SN). DLCOSB-3EQ was unaffected by preinspiratory lung volume and breath-hold time. DLCOexhaled increased with increasing preinspiratory lung volume and decreased with increasing breath-hold time. These changes correlated with the simultaneously observed changes in ventilation inhomogeneity as measured by SN (P < 0.01). We conclude that measurements of DLCOexhaled do not accurately reflect the mean DLCO. Intrabreath methods of measuring DLCO are based on the slope of the exhaled CO concentration curve, which is affected by both ventilation and diffusion inhomogeneities. Although DLCOexhaled may theoretically provide information about the distribution of CO uptake, the concomitant effects of ventilation nonuniformity on DLCOexhaled may mimic or mask the effects of diffusion nonuniformity.


1992 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 2623-2630 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Cotton ◽  
M. B. Prabhu ◽  
J. T. Mink ◽  
B. L. Graham

In patients with airflow obstruction, we found that ventilation inhomogeneity during vital capacity single-breath maneuvers was associated with decreases in the three-equation single-breath CO diffusing capacity of the lung (DLcoSB-3EQ) when breath-hold time (tBH) decreased. We postulated that this was due to a significant resistance to diffusive gas mixing within the gas phase of the lung. In this study, we hypothesized that this phenomenon might also occur in normal subjects if the breathing cycle were altered from traditional vital capacity maneuvers to those that increase ventilation inhomogeneity. In 10 normal subjects, we examined the tBH dependence of both DLcoSB-3EQ and the distribution of ventilation, measured by the mixing efficiency and the normalized phase III slope for helium. Preinspiratory lung volume (V0) was increased by keeping the maximum end-inspiratory lung volume (Vmax) constant or by increasing V0 and Vmax. When V0 increased while Vmax was kept constant, we found that the tBH-independent and the tBH-dependent components of ventilation inhomogeneity increased, but DLcoSB-3EQ was independent of V0 and tBH. Increasing V0 and Vmax did not change ventilation inhomogeneity at a tBH of 0 s, but the tBH-dependent component decreased. DLcoSB-3EQ, although independent of tBH, increased slightly with increases in Vmax. We conclude that in normal subjects increases in ventilation inhomogeneity with increases in V0 do not result in DLcoSB-3EQ becoming tBH dependent.


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