Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2025
Conducting Respiratory Oscillometry in an Outpatient Setting
Published on: April 8, 2022
Respiratory Oscillometry in Newborn Infants: Conventional and Intra-Breath Approaches
Bence L Radics1, Zita Gyurkovits2, Gergely Makan3
1Department of Pathology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
Background:
Oscillometry has been employed widely as a non-invasive and standardized measurement of respiratory function in children and adults; however, limited information is available on infants.
Aims:
To establish the within-session variability of respiratory impedance (Zrs), to characterize the degree and profile of intra-breath changes in Zrs and to assess their impact on conventional oscillometry in newborns.
Methods:
109 healthy newborns were enrolled in the study conducted in the first 5 postpartum days during natural sleep. A custom-made wave-tube oscillometry setup was used, with an 8-48 Hz pseudorandom and a 16 Hz sinusoidal signal used for spectral and intra-breath oscillometry, respectively. A resistance-compliance-inertance (R-C-L) model was fitted to average Zrs spectra obtained from successive 30-s recordings. Intra-breath measures, such as resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs) at the end-expiratory, end-inspiratory and maximum-flow points were estimated from three 90-s recordings. All natural and artifact-free breaths were included in the analysis.
Results:
Within-session changes in the mean R, C and L values, respectively, were large (mean coefficients of variation: 10.3, 20.3, and 26.6%); the fluctuations of the intra-breath measures were of similar degree (20-24%). Intra-breath analysis also revealed large swings in Rrs and Xrs within the breathing cycle: the peak-to-peak changes amounted to 93% (range: 32-218%) and 41% (9-212%), respectively, of the zero-flow Zrs magnitude.
Discussion:
Intra-breath tracking of Zrs provides new insight into the determinants of the dynamics of respiratory system, and highlights the biasing effects of mechanical non-linearities on the average Zrs data obtained from the conventional spectral oscillometry.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Special considerations while measuring oxygen saturation
Ensuring accuracy in vital sign recordings while prioritizing patient comfort and minimizing anxiety is...
01:29Assessment 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:
01:20Assessment 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:
01:23Assessment 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...
01:19Respiratory Assessment: Purpose and Indications
Objectives and Importance:
The primary goal of respiratory assessment is to evaluate patients at early risk of clinical deterioration. Since respiratory distress often precedes other signs of declining health, breathing patterns and sounds become a...
01:24Pulse Oximetry
Purpose
Average SpO2 values are greater than 95%. If the readings fall below 90%, it indicates that...