Chest wall motion symmetry during breathing - a systematic review with meta-analysis providing normative value in...

The physical examination of the respiratory system looks for evidence of asymmetrical breathing motion that is considered as pathologic. Optoelectronic plethysmography (OEP) is a non-invasive technic that uses motion capture to measure breathing volumes.

The aim of this systematic review is to research the progress made using OEP with a segmentation allowing the comparison of left and right parts of total and compartmental chest wall motion both in pathology and healthy condition.

Systematic research was conducted using Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Cochrane databases. A meta-analysis was performed on the relative contribution of the right side to the total and compartmental chest wall motion in healthy subjects during quiet breathing.

Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. OEP accurately diagnosed pathologies that would typically be diagnosed through invasive procedures. OEP is suitable for the assessment of the effects of thoracic surgeries and pulmonary rehabilitation. The meta-analysis results show that the total chest wall motion is symmetrical with the right side contributing 50.00% ([49.24: 50.76], p < 0.05). Compartmental chest wall motion is affected by slight asymmetries. The right part of the pulmonary rib cage (RCP) accounts for 51.02% ([49.56 : 52.47], p < 0.05) of the RCP motion. The right part of the abdominal rib cage and the abdomen compensate with a contribution of 49.25% ([47.74 : 50.77], p < 0.05 and 49.33% ([48.34 : 50.32], p < 0.05) respectively.

OEP's ability to compare left and right sides of chest wall motion during breathing is relevant to diagnose and to follow-up pathologies causing breathing asymmetries.