Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2025
Conducting Respiratory Oscillometry in an Outpatient Setting
Published on: April 8, 2022
Oscillometry helps assess treatment responsiveness in adults with asthma exacerbations
Shingo Takahashi1, Toshihiro Shirai1, Taisuke Akamatsu1
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shizuoka General Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan.
Background:
It is necessary to evaluate the severity of asthma exacerbations for subjective symptoms and objective indicators. When patients cannot perform spirometry, oscillometry is a surrogate test.
Objective:
We assessed the usefulness of oscillometry for the evaluation of treatment responsiveness in patients with asthma exacerbations.
Methods:
The subjects included 21 consecutive patients with asthma exacerbations. Symptomatic responses, oscillometry, and spirometry (if possible) were assessed before and after treatment with corticosteroids and aminophylline.
Results:
After treatment, all of the patients were allowed to return home and had no hospital visits. Oscillometry was feasible in all patients; however, spirometry could not be performed in 9 patients. Overall, there was a significant improvement in wheezing scores and oscillometric parameters, but not in FEV1 after treatment. The thresholds for a positive bronchodilator response in oscillometry were observed in 4 or more patients, while the minimal clinically important differences in FEV1 were observed in one patient.
Conclusion:
Oscillometry can detect improvements that cannot.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:
01:26Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
01:30Asthma-IV: Nursing Management
First, in...
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:
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
01:26COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids