Background: To standardize multiple-breath washout (MBW) measurements, 1L tidal volume (VT) protocols were suggested. The effect on MBW derived ventilation inhomogeneity (VI) indices is unclear.
Methods: We compared VI indices from free breathing MBW at baseline to 1L VT MBW performed in triplicates in 35 children (20 with CF). Mean (range) age was 12.8 (7.0-16.7) years, weight 42 (20-64) kg and height 151 (117-170) cm.
Results: Baseline lung clearance index (LCI) increased from mean (SD) 11.0 (2.2) to 13.0 (2.6), p = 0.011, in CF and from 6.8 (0.5) to 7.7 (1.4), p = 0.004, in controls. Moment ratio and Scond similarly increased. While change in VI indices was heterogeneous in individuals, decrease in functional residual capacity was most strongly associated with LCI increase.
Conclusion: MBW protocols strongly influence measures of VI. The 1L VT MBW protocol leads to overestimation of VI and is not recommended in children.
Keywords: Children; Clinical use; Cystic fibrosis; Lung physiology; Respiratory function test.
© 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of European Cystic Fibrosis Society. All rights reserved.