PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Daniella Brandao AU - Susan Lage AU - Jasiel Nascimento, Jr. AU - Larissa Carvalho AU - Fabiana Vieira AU - Silvia Marinho Martins AU - Luciana Alcoforado AU - Raquel Britto AU - Veronica Parreira AU - Guilherme Fregonezi AU - Andrea Aliverti AU - Armele Dornelas de Andrade TI - Regional chest wall volume variations in heart failure patients during inspiratory muscle training DP - 2011 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - 1715 VI - 38 IP - Suppl 55 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/1715.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/1715.full SO - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38 AB - It is unknown how heart failure (HF) and cardiomegaly associated with diaphragmatic weakness affects chest wall function. Therefore, we evaluated in these patients the distribution of volume variations into the different thoracoabdominal compartments during quiet breathing and during inspiratory muscle training. Thirty-one individuals were evaluated and divided into two groups: HF (17 patients with functional class II and III chronic heart failure associated with cardiomegaly) and control (12 healthy volunteers). All subjects were evaluated by spirometry, six-minute walking test (6MWT), and optoelectronic plethysmography (OEP) during threshold inspiratory muscle training (IMT). OEP allowed to assess right-left asymmetries in the volume changes of upper thoracic (Vrcp), lower thoracic (Vrca), and abdominal (Vab) compartments. While no significant differences were present between right and left sides in the control group during IMT, in HF patients volume variations of Vrca were 45.30%±9.10 and 54.33%±12.9, respectively in the left and right sides (p=0,03). This was associated to a significant decrease, compared to normals, of Vrca variations; in addition, a positive correlation between the%Vra,left and ejection fraction of left ventricle (r=0.468 and p=0.049), and a negative correlation between the Borg scale after the 6MWT and the%Vra, left side (r=-0.878 and p<0.01) were found. In conclusion, HF patients have a reduced displacement of the lower rib cage of the left compared to right side, suggesting the influence of cardiomegaly on diaphragmatic weakness and and increased perception of dyspnea during submaximal exercise.