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Evaluation of the interrupter technique in healthy, unsedated infants

Swiss Paediatric Respiratory Physiology Research Group, University Children's Hospital, Berne & Zürich, Switzerland

CORRESPONDENCE: U. Frey, Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Dept of Paediatrics, University Hospital, Inselspital, Berne, CH-3010, Switzerland. Fax: 41 316329484

Keywords: airway resistance, interrupter technique, respiratory resistance, unsedated infants

Received: March 6, 2001
Accepted August 10, 2001

This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Score grant: 3200-052197.97/1), the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, the Swiss Cystic Fibrosis Society and AstraZeneca (Switzerland).

The interrupter technique may be used to monitor respiratory resistance and does not require active patient cooperation, but has yet to be applied in unsedated, spontaneously breathing infants. The aim of this study was to determine if the interrupter technique is feasible in spontaneously breathing infants and to investigate the influence of facemask types and analysis techniques on the interrupter resistance (R_int).

R_int was measured in 14 healthy, unsedated, sleeping infants (aged 38.4 (31–56) days (mean (range)). Paired measurements were made using large volume, compliant (M_comp) and small volume, rigid (M_rigid) facemasks. Flow and pressure were measured at the airway opening prior to- and following a brief airway occlusion (500 ms). R_int was calculated using four previously reported analysis techniques.

R_int could be measured in all infants. M_comp, independent of the analysis method significantly underestimated R_int (p<0.001). The variability and magnitude of R_int were significantly influenced by the choice of analysis method.

The conclusion is that the interrupter technique is feasible in spontaneously breathing, unsedated infants. Equipment design and analysis method significantly influences interrupter resistance. Studies standardizing equipment and identifying the most appropriate analysis technique in this age group are needed.

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