By Lotte Loland, MD, PhD
Summary
Chairman: Vibeke Backer
Opponent: Peter Oluf Schiøtz
Opponent: Bent Klug
This Ph.D. thesis is based on studies conducted during my employment at the Department of Pediatrics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet. Respiratory diseases are a major cause of morbidity in infants; and lung function testing can provide information on the causes, pathophysiology and consequences of these diseases, as well as on effect of therapeutic intervention.
The aim of the thesis was to evaluate sensitivity, repeatability and feasibility of: measurements of tidal breathing, forced expirations by the raised volume rapid thoracic compression (RVRTC) technique, auscultation and measurements of transcutaneous oxygen (PtCO2) during a methacholine challenge test in infants.
These techniques reflect different aspects of lung function and pose considerably different resource requirements, including sedation.
PtCO2 was the most sensitive parameter for detecting changes in lung function, followed by forced expiratory volume in 0.5 second (FEV0.5) obtained by the RVRTC technique. Coefficients of variation for PtCO2: 4% and FEV0.5: 7%.
Feasibility was evaluated in terms of success rate, safety, acceptability and resource requirements. Baseline lung function was determined in 99% and 94%, and bronchial responsiveness in 87% and 88%, of the infants, by FEV0.5 and PtCO2 respectively. No safety issues of concern were observed and the response of the parents was favourable. A complete test, carried out by one operator, took three hours.
In conclusion, PtCO2 and FEV0.5 are the most sensitive parameters for detecting changes in infant lung function. Baseline measurements of FEV0.5 and measurements of bronchial responsiveness by PtCO2 would improve feasibility of future studies on lung function in infancy. The requirement of sedation restricts their use to research and selected clinical cases.
