Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Conducting Respiratory Oscillometry in an Outpatient Setting
Published on: April 8, 2022
Expiratory phase lung mechanics in late-onset Pompe disease: a multicenter study using oscillometry to identify
Grazia Crescimanno1,2, Oreste Marrone3, Marta Lazzeri4
1Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council, Palermo, Italy. grazia.crescimanno@irib.cnr.it.
Introduction:
In late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), muscle weakness causes restrictive lung impairment. In murine models, glycogen deposition in lung parenchyma suggests additional causes for restriction that remain poorly understood. We investigated whether oscillometry detects respiratory abnormalities not identified by spirometry and evaluated changes after air-stacking manoeuvres.
Methods:
We prospectively evaluated 16 adults with LOPD from three Italian centres. Alongside spirometry, oscillometry (at 5, 11, and 19 Hz) was performed to assess resistance (R) and reactance (X) across the breathing cycle and by respiratory phase. Measurements were repeated 5 min after an air-stacking manoeuvre.
Results:
Participants (7 men, 9 women; 51.6 ± 12.5 years) had moderate-to-severe restriction (FVC 53.3 ± 19.6% predicted) with preserved FEV1/FVC. Two oscillometric patterns emerged. The first one (seven patients) was characterised by an abnormal increase in expiratory resistance within breaths ([R5exp - R5insp] > 0.70 cmH2O·s/L), associated or not with abnormal whole-breath R and intrabreath X changes. The second pattern (nine patients) consisted of normal R and X changes in the breathing cycle. Air-stacking increased FVC (53.3 ± 19.6 to 71.3 ± 19.2% predicted, p < 0.001) without normalising reactance.
Conclusion:
In LOPD, oscillometry detects distinct mechanical patterns not identified by spirometry. Air-stacking increases lung volumes without improving respiratory mechanics.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
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:
01:25Pulmonary Function Tests
Pulmonary Function Tests are crucial diagnostic tools for assessing respiratory function, particularly in patients with chronic respiratory disorders. They comprehensively evaluate lung volumes, ventilatory function, breathing mechanics, diffusion, and gas exchange. These tests help diagnose pulmonary diseases and play a significant role in monitoring disease progression, evaluating disability, and assessing response to therapy.
PFTs involve using a spirometer, a...
01:31Respiratory System Abnormal Finding II: Palpation and Auscultation
Palpation Findings
During a respiratory assessment, palpation can reveal several vital abnormalities:
01:24Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...