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The bias flow nitrogen washout technique for measuring the functional residual capacity in infants

¹ Section of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA, ² Dept of Paediatrics, Central Hospital, Skövde, Sweden, ³ Section of Pediatric Pulmonology, Indiana University Medical Centre, James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Hospital for Children, Indianapolis, IN, USA, ⁴ University Children's Hospital, Dept of Paediatric Pulmonology and Neonatology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, D-30623, Hannover, Germany and ⁵ Portex Anaesthesia, Intensive Therapy and Respiratory Medicine Unit, Institute of Child Health, London, UK

CORRESPONDENCE: M.G. Morris, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Section of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Arkansas Children's Hospital, 800 Marshall Street, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA. Fax: 1501 3203930

Keywords: functional residual capacity, gas dilution, infant, lung volume, nitrogen washout, respiratory function tests

Received: August 17, 2000
Accepted October 15, 2000

This work was supported by a grant from the European Respiratory Society, and by donations from Glaxo-Wellcome (UK) and Glaxo-Wellcome AB (Sweden). M.G. Morris was supported by a Clinical Research Grant (CG-008-N) co-funded by the American Lung Association (ALA) and the Arkansas Chapter of ALA.

Abstract

The functional residual capacity (FRC) is the most commonly measured static lung volume in infants. It is important for interpreting volume-dependent pulmonary mechanics, e.g. airway resistance, and defining normal lung growth. The bias flow nitrogen washout technique is widely used for measuring FRC because the dead space and circuit resistance are low, making it suitable for small or sick infants. Moreover, data acquisition and calculation are easily programmed for a personal computer.

The aim of this paper is to provide recommendations pertaining to equipment requirements, study procedures and reporting of data for functional residual capacity measurements. While measuring the functional residual capacity is regarded as physiologically and clinically important, the accuracy of the measurement is undoubtedly equally important. Hence, the paper also emphasizes factors influencing the accuracy of functional residual capacity measurements independent of equipment requirements. These recommendations represent the "State of the Art" in 2000.

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