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To clip or not to clip? Noseclips for spirometry.
R Chavasse1, P Johnson, J Francis
1Queen Mary's Hospital for Children, Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, Surrey, UK. richard.chavasse@epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk
The European Respiratory Journal
|May 27, 2003
Summary
Noseclips did not significantly alter spirometry results like forced vital capacity (FVC) or forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in children. Individual assessment for optimal technique is recommended over mandatory noseclip use in clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
- Pulmonary Function Testing
Background:
- Guidelines recommend noseclips for spirometry, but their use is inconsistent.
- The impact of noseclips on pediatric spirometry measurements requires further evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess if noseclips significantly affect forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) measurements in children.
- To compare spirometry results obtained with and without noseclips in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- 62 children (asthma and cystic fibrosis) performed two spirometry tests, with and without noseclips, in random order.
- Paired data analysis was conducted to compare FVC and FEV1 measurements.
Main Results:
- No systematic differences were observed in FEV1 or FVC with or without noseclips.
- A small percentage (11%) of children showed clinically significant FEV1 differences (>190 mL).
Conclusions:
- Noseclips do not offer a clear advantage for open-circuit spirometry in children.
- Individualized technique assessment and consistent application are preferred over mandatory noseclip use.
- Noseclips may be best reserved for specific research protocols.