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Interference of cardiovascular sounds with phonopneumography in children
Insights
Cardiovascular sounds can interfere with pediatric breath sound analysis, particularly at low frequencies below 100 Hz. Careful timing during the cardiac cycle is essential for accurate lung sound interpretation in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Acoustics
Background:
- Accurate analysis of breath sounds is crucial for diagnosing respiratory conditions in children.
- Cardiovascular sounds can potentially overlap with and mask lung sounds.
- Understanding this interference is key for improving diagnostic accuracy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interference of heart sounds with pediatric breath sound analysis.
- To quantify the spectral overlap between cardiovascular and respiratory sounds.
- To determine optimal conditions for analyzing breath sounds in children.
Main Methods:
- Utilized fast Fourier transform and power spectra analysis.
- Recorded simultaneous breath sounds, electrocardiogram (ECG), and airflow in 10 children (8-13 years).
- Sampled sound segments based on R-wave detection, with and without heart sounds.
Main Results:
- Significant overlap in power spectra between heart and breath sounds below 100 Hz.
- Heart sounds were minimally attenuated over the right upper lobe.
- Low-frequency breath sound analysis requires exclusion of cardiac cycle periods.
Conclusions:
- Cardiovascular sounds present a notable interference in pediatric breath sound analysis.
- Accurate analysis of low-frequency breath sounds necessitates sampling during quiescent cardiac periods.
- Methodological adjustments are needed for reliable pediatric lung sound interpretation.
Abstract:
We have used fast Fourier transform and power spectra analysis to determine possible interference of cardiovascular sounds with the analysis of breath sounds in children. Ten normal children, 8 to 13 yr of age, were studied with sound transducer over midprecordium, right upper lobe, and right lower lobe along with simultaneously recorded ECG and air flow. Detection of R-waves facilitated sampling of sound segments at defined flow rates, with inclusion or exclusion of heart sounds. Measurements during breath-holding and without heart sounds served as baseline values. Heart sounds were only slightly attenuated over the right upper lobe. There was a considerable overlap in the power spectra of heart and breath sounds, mainly in frequencies below 100 Hz. Analysis of low-frequency components of normal breath sounds requires sampling during parts of the cardiac cycle that are free of cardiovascular sounds.