RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Feasibility of lung clearance index in a clinical setting in pre-school children
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 1074
OP 1080
DO 10.1183/13993003.00374-2016
VO 48
IS 4
A1 Barrett Downing
A1 Samantha Irving
A1 Yvonne Bingham
A1 Louise Fleming
A1 Andrew Bush
A1 Sejal Saglani
YR 2016
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/4/1074.abstract
AB Lung function testing in pre-school children in the clinical setting is challenging. Most cannot perform spirometry and many infant lung function tests require sedation. Lung clearance index (LCI) derived from the multiple-breath washout (MBW) test has been shown to be sensitive to early disease changes but may be time consuming and so a shortened test (LCI0.5) may be more feasible in young children. We sought to establish feasibility of MBW in unsedated pre-school children in a clinic setting and hypothesised use of LCI0.5 would increase success rates.116 pre-school children (28 healthy controls and 88 with respiratory disease), median age 4.0 years (range 2–6 years), underwent MBW tests unsedated in a clinic setting, using sulfur hexafluoride as a tracer gas and an adapted photoacoustic gas analyser.81 (70%) out of 116 children completed LCI and 72% completed LCI0.5 measurement. Test success increased significantly in patients over 3 years (0% at <2.5 years, 33% at 2.5–3 years and 70% at >3 years, p<0.0001). LCI was elevated in those with respiratory disease compared with healthy controls.MBW is feasible in a clinic setting in unsedated pre-schoolers, particularly in those >3 years old, and LCI is raised in those with respiratory disease. Use of LCI0.5 did not increase success rate in pre-schoolers.Lung clearance index measurement is feasible in children older than 3 years in the clinic http://ow.ly/qcIt300Q6oO