Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 5, 2026

Monitoring Lung Function with Electrical Impedance Tomography in the Intensive Care Unit
Published on: September 6, 2024
Bedside Breath-Wise Visualization of Bronchospasm by Electrical Impedance Tomography Could Improve Perioperative
Pedro de la Oliva1, Andreas D Waldmann, Stephan H Böhm
1From the *Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, ES, Spain; †Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, ES, Spain; ‡Swisstom AG, Medical Research, Landquart, CH, Switzerland; and §Pediatric Anestesia and Reanimation Unit, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, ES, Spain.
Abstract:
Bronchospasm appears in up to 4% of patients with obstructive lung disease or respiratory infection undergoing general anesthesia. Clinical examination alone may miss bronchospasm. As a consequence, subsequent (mis)treatment and ventilator settings could lead to pulmonary hyperinflation, hypoxia, hypercapnia, hypotension, patient-ventilator asynchrony, volutrauma, or barotrauma. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT), a new noninvasive technique, can potentially identify bronchospasms by determining regional expiratory time constants (τ) for each one of the pixels of a functional EIT image. We present the first clinical case that highlights the potential of breath-wise EIT-based τ images of the lung to quickly identify bronchospasm at the bedside, which could improve perioperative patient management and safety.
More Related Videos
08:26Quantitative Mapping of Specific Ventilation in the Human Lung using Proton Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Oxygen as a Contrast Agent
Published on: June 5, 2019
06:11Employing the Forced Oscillation Technique for the Assessment of Respiratory Mechanics in Adults
Published on: February 9, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Inspection
Chest Configuration
The chest configuration...
Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement:
Assessment of Respiration
Subjective Assessment: Nurses interview the patient to gather information directly during the subjective assessment. It includes questions about the individual's medical history, medications, and symptoms, focusing on past respiratory conditions like...
Assessment of Ventilation I: Respiratory Rate
A Ventilation assessment is critical for monitoring a patient's health status. Respiration, one of the most accessible vital signs, provides insights into the function of numerous body systems and can indicate serious health issues, such as brainstem injuries from head trauma.
Critical Guidelines for Assessing Ventilation:
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Palpation
Thoracic Palpation
Thoracic palpation detects tenderness, masses, lesions, respiratory excursions, and vocal fremitus. The nurse assesses...
Assessment of Diffusion and Perfusion
The Role of Diffusion in Respiration
Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In the respiratory system, this...