Respiratory care
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Computerized respiratory sounds have shown potential in monitoring respiratory status in patients with COPD. However, the variability and reliability of this promising marker in COPD are unknown. Therefore, this study assessed the variability and reliability of respiratory sounds at distinct air flows and standardized anatomic locations in subjects with COPD. ⋯ Respiratory sound parameters are more reliable at an air flow of 0.4-0.6 L/s and are reliable overall at all anatomic locations. This should be considered in future studies using computerized auscultation.
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The dead-space volume (VD) of face masks for metered-dose inhaler treatments is particularly important in infants and young children with asthma, who have relatively low tidal volumes. Data about VD have been traditionally obtained from water displacement measurements, in which masks are held against a flat surface. Because, in real life, masks are placed against the face, VD is likely to differ considerably between masks depending upon their contour and fit. The aim of this study was to develop an accurate and reliable way to measure VD electronically and to apply this technique by comparing the electronic VD of commonly available face masks. ⋯ Computerized techniques provide an innovative and relatively simple way of accurately measuring the VD of face masks applied to digital faces. As determined by computerized measurement using average-size virtual faces, the InspiRx masks had a significantly smaller VD for both small and medium masks compared with the other masks. This is of considerable importance with respect to aerosol dose and delivery time, particularly in young children. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration NCT01274299.).
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The aim of this study was to investigate whether electromyographic manifestations of fatigue and exercise tolerance were related to stage of disease in men with a COPD diagnosis. ⋯ The electromyographic manifestations of fatigue during sustained quadriceps contraction significantly correlated with disease severity and exercise tolerance in moderate to severe COPD.