[Rheographic monitoring of lung ventilation (author's transl)]

Electrical conductivity changes are measured with rheography. Changes of conductivity on the thorax caused by respiration, superimpose and exceed those caused by different circulatory conditions. Therefore rheography was adapted for monitoring of respiration. Changes in electric conductivity can be explained by the inflow of air to the alveoli, by increase of the distance between electrode, and by changes of the intrathoracic blood volume. Rheography developed by Polzer and Schuhfried was tested in the intensive care unit and the respiration therapy department. It was shown that this method is suitable for control of respiration, for demonstrating regional differences of pulmonary ventilation, for checking of respiration therapy and for monitoring the ventilated patient.