Upper airway obstruction in the sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (SAHS) can be easily assessed by measuring respiratory impedance with the forced oscillation technique (FOT). This methodology has been proposed as a useful clinical tool both for the diagnosis of sleep breathing disorders and for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration. However, previous studies suggest that the appli...

The forced oscillation technique (FOT) is a noninvasive method of potential clinical interest for quantitatively assessing airway mechanics during sleep. We investigated the applicability of FOT as a diagnostic tool for noninvasive assessment of airflow obstruction in patients with sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (SAHS) during sleep. In seven patients previously diagnosed with severe SAHS (mean...

The performance of the forced oscillation technique (FOT) in the assessment of bronchial responsiveness on the methacholine challenge test was compared with that of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in 119 active workers with normal baseline pulmonary function. Changes in resistance (delta R0%), frequency dependence of resistance (delta P) and resonant frequency (delta F%) determine...

BACKGROUND Expiratory flow limitation (EFL) during tidal breathing is common in patients with severe COPD, and a major determinant of dynamic hyperinflation and exercise limitation. EFL can be measured by the forced oscillation technique (FOT); however, the relevance to clinical parameters is not fully understood. We hypothesized that emphysema extent and pulmonary function would contribute ind...

The forced oscillation technique (FOT) is a useful tool to assess respiratory resistance and reactance during tidal breathing in patients with respiratory diseases, specifically asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Although the FOT has been clinically used, results of respiratory impedance can be affected by various factors such as upper airway artifact. We investigated the effects...

BACKGROUND Pulmonary complications are the most common cause of death and morbidity in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The forced oscillation technique (FOT) offers a simple and detailed approach to investigate the mechanical properties of the respiratory system. We hypothesized that SSc may introduce changes in the resistive and reactive properties of the respiratory system, and that FOT may help th...

BACKGROUND Intravascular fluid shifts, mechanical ventilation and inhalational anesthetic drugs may contribute to intraoperative lung injury. This prospective observational study measured the changes in respiratory impedance resulting from inhalational anesthesia and mechanical ventilation in adults undergoing transurethral resection of bladder tumors. The components of respiratory impedance (r...

The bronchodilator activity in nebulised salbutamol, ipratropium bromide, clemastine, and a placebo was studied in 14 asthmatic children aged between 3 and 5 years. Changes in lung function were monitored by measuring peak expiratory flow rate and total respiratory resistance using a modification of the forced oscillation technique. Ipratropium bromide produced a degree of bronchodilation simil...