Abstract
Background: Laryngomalacia is the most common cause of stridor in infants. It is most often self-limited with resolution of symptoms within the first 12-24 months of life. The gold standard for the diagnosis is airways endoscopy. To date, the technical evolution and the use of less invasive methods allow to identify different airway obstructions also in uncooperative children.
Aim: To investigate the role of Tidal breath analysis technique (TB) and Multiple Breath Washout test (MBW) for the diagnosis and follow-up of stridor.
Methods: We enrolled 5 infants (<2 months) with stridor. We performed TB analysis for each patient at first evaluation (T0) and in 3 infants after 3 months (T1). At T1 all patient underwent MBW.
Results: We found an abnormal morphologic pattern in the TB-FV loop in at T0 (figure 1). At T0 TB analysis showed a lower peak inspiratory flow compared to peak expiratory flow (97.84 ±26.14 vs 117.8 ±25.87) and a longer inspiratory time than expiratory time (0.59±0.16 vs 0.52±0.16); tidal volume (TV), respiratory rate (RR) and the ratio of time to peak tidal expiratory flow to total expiratory time (TPTEF/TE) were normal. At T1 we observed and increase of TV and a lower RR and a decreased ratio of inspiratory time to expiratory time (table 1). MBW test showed a normal residual functional capacity in all patients (123±44.9).
Conclusion: TB-FV could be a valid tool in the management of laryngomalacia, reducing the use of invasive procedures and contributing to a better use of economic resources of the health system.
Patients | TV | RR | TI | TE | TI/TE | TPTEF/TE |
T0 | 40.92 ±13.36 | 48±9.6 | 0.59±0.16 | 0.52±0.16 | 1.3 | 34.52±11.02 |
T1 | 53.17±20.6 | 36±1.41 | 0.71±0.07 | 0.94±0.04 | 0.75 | 30.09±9.7 |
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, OA4072.
This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2021