Effects of high-frequency inflation (HFI) on expiratory activity.

It has been reported that triangular-shaped positive pressure pulses applied to the airway (high-frequency inflation, HFI) stimulates pulmonary stretch receptors and prolongs expiratory duration. In the present experiment, changes in the integrated curve of expiratory activity induced by HFI were investigated. Duration until the onset of the expiratory activity (E1 stage) was unchanged. In the E2 stage, the initial ascending slope became steeper and higher peaks were reached during HFI stimulation. The period from the onset of the slope to the peak, previously designated the stage of active expiration (Ea stage), showed no consistent change in duration and remained unchanged on average. The period after the peak until the onset of the following inspiratory activity was consistently prolonged. This period was designated the declining stage of expiration (Ed stage).