[Measurement of functional residual capacity by nitrogen washout during mechanical ventilation]

A medical gas analyzer AMIS 2000 SP, which is a mass spectrometer, incorporating a fractional residual capacity (FRC) measuring program based on a nitrogen washout method, has been introduced recently. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and the reproductivity of the FRC measuring system in a clinical situation. FRC was measured by this system connected to a ventilator (Bennet 7200ae). Our study examined; 1) the accuracy of the measurement using a syringe. 2) the difference in two consecutive measurements in the same subject during mechanical ventilation, and 3) the correlation between the measured and the predicted value calculated with Gorldman's formula in 18 subjects during ventilation. The first study has showed an excellent correlation (y = 0.953x + 0.092, r = 0.996, P < 0.001) or y = 0.909x + 0.132 (r = 0.999, P < 0.001) with a tidal volume of 400 ml or 500 ml, respectively) between the measured value and the syringe capacity. Reproductivity was proved by the linear regression (y = 0.977x + 0.024, r = 0.998, P < 0.001) between the two consecutive measurements. A good correlation was shown between the measured values and the predicted values (y = 0.656x - 0.415, r = 0.849, P < 0.0001). These results showed good reliability and reproductivity of our FRC measuring system. It is concluded that the FRC measurements using AMIS2000SP system can be used in clinical respiratory managements in ICU.