Respiratory physiology teaching: determination of residual volume by applying the indicator-dilution technique

Apart from the current teaching of spirometric methods in laboratory courses on respiratory physiology, we have included an experiment in which medical students determine their own residual volume by applying the indicator-dilution technique. For hygienic reasons we used a bag-in-the-box system to dilute helium within alveolar space by performing the single-breath method. Although each participant independently underwent only one single-breath maneuver, we gained a reliable relationship between residual volume and subjects' height and body weight in 68 female (r = 0.6, P < 0.0001) and 99 male (r = 0.42, P < 0.0001) students. From this successful outcome and with the opportunity to discuss the limitations of the single-breath method as well, we inferred that this experiment affords a transparent and instructive approach to interpreting the determination of lung volumes on the basis of the indicator-dilution technique.