Related Experiment Videos
Inspiratory muscle strength in asthma.
M H Lavietes1, J A Grocela, T Maniatis
1Department of Medicine (Pulmonary), University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark.
Chest
|May 1, 1988
Summary
Respiratory muscle weakness does not occur during acute bronchospasm. Inspiratory muscle strength (Pimax) did not correlate with airway obstruction severity in patients with asthma.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Respiratory Physiology
Background:
- Inspiratory muscle strength (Pimax) can increase as an adaptive response to airway obstruction.
- It is hypothesized that respiratory muscle weakness may precede hospital admission during acute bronchospasm.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between respiratory muscle strength and airway obstruction in patients experiencing acute bronchospasm.
- To determine if respiratory muscle weakness predicts hospital admission during acute bronchospasm.
Main Methods:
- Maximal inspiratory pressure (Pimax) was measured in 20 patients with acute bronchospasm.
- Functional residual capacity (FRC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were assessed.
- Rib cage and abdominal motion during tidal breathing were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Pimax was 81% of predicted in patients with acute bronchospasm (FEV1 36% predicted).
- Pimax correlated with hyperinflation (FRC) and body weight, but not with the degree of airflow obstruction.
- Rib cage and abdominal motion abnormalities did not correlate with airflow obstruction or Pimax.
Conclusions:
- Respiratory muscle weakness is minimal or absent during acute bronchospasm.
- Pimax does not correlate with the severity of airway obstruction in bronchospasm.
- Pimax does not explain abnormal rib cage and abdominal motion in asthma.