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

Journal/Book: Reprinted from THE JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION VOI. XXXV No. 3 pp. 327-335 1956. 1956;

Abstract: (From the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Graduate School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania Philadedphia Pa.) 1 These studies were aided (in part) by a contract between the Office of Naval Research Department of the Navy and the University of Pennsylvania NR 112-323. SUMMARY 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 latter 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. H20 per liter per sec. ( range 0.6 to 2.4 ) at a flow rate of 1 liter per second panting. A preliminary study has been madeof the airway resistance in 30 patients; the range of resistances was 0.6 to 10.8 cm. H20 per liter per sec. 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.

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