RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Mechanical load on the ventilatory muscles during an incremental cycle ergometer test
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 385
OP 392
DO 10.1183/09031936.93.04040385
VO 4
IS 4
A1 T Wanke
A1 D Formanek
A1 G Schenz
A1 W Popp
A1 H Gatol
A1 H Zwick
YR 1991
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/4/4/385.abstract
AB An incremental cycle ergometer test performed with a total of 40 healthy subjects (25 male, 15 female) was used to study the mechanical load on the ventilatory muscles. The parameters for the mechanical load on the ventilatory muscles are the time integral of the oesophageal pressure and the mean oesophageal pressure change per time unit (dPoe/dTI) of each breathing manoeuvre. The pressure-time integral is the area delimited by the oesophageal pressure trace and the inspiratory time axis. It is expressed as a fraction of the product of the subject's maximum oesophageal pressure (Poe(max)) and total breath cycle duration (TTOT). This parameter is called oesophageal tension time index (TTIoe). The relationship between minute ventilation and these two parameters during ergometer test showed gender-specific variations because of the differences between men and women as to anthropometric data, lung function parameters and maximum ventilatory muscle strength. Moreover, the dPoe/dTI values significantly depend on the breathing frequency. The present study has provided evidence that, in general, the TTIoe and dPoe/dTI values in terms of a specific minute ventilation (VE) are higher in women than in men. Parameters for the mechanical load on the ventilatory muscles regarding the level of pressure to be generated as well as the duration and velocity of muscle contraction should therefore also allow for the gender of the patients.