Pulmonary disease changes the physiology of the lungs, which manifests as changes in respiratory mechanics. Therefore, measurement of respiratory mechanics allows a clinician to monitor closely the course of pulmonary disease. Here we review the principles of respiratory mechanics and their clinical applications. These principles include compliance, elastance, resistance, impedance, flow, and w...

The objective of this paper is to present recent results within an investigation on human respiratory mechanics. The overall aim is to provide a fast method for identification of airway mechanics, in order to assist the medical staff in obtaining a diagnosis of the patient. Some ideas for a novel detection of respiratory mechanics parameters are presented, as well as preliminary experimental re...

BACKGROUND Real-time patient respiratory mechanics estimation can be used to guide mechanical ventilation settings, particularly, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). This work presents a software, Clinical Utilisation of Respiratory Elastance (CURE Soft), using a time-varying respiratory elastance model to offer this ability to aid in mechanical ventilation treatment. IMPLEMENTATION CURE...

OBJECTIVE To describe and evaluate clinically applicable approaches to measurement of respiratory mechanics in critically ill patients. DATA SOURCES Methodological and evaluation studies of respiratory mechanics in critically ill patients from relevant MEDLINE searches. SUMMARY OF REVIEW In ventilated subjects clinically important respiratory system mechanics can be measured using airway pr...

1. DuBois AB, Brody AW, Lewis DH, Burgess DF. Oscillation mechanics of lungs and chest in man. J Appl Physiol, 1956, 8, 587-594. 2. Michaelson ED, Grassman ED, Peters WR. Pulmonary mechanics by spectral analysis of forced random noise. J Clin Invest, 1975, 56, 1210-1230. 3. Peslin, Fredberg JJ. Oscillation mechanics of the respiratory system. In: Handbook of Physiology, Section 3, Vol. III. Mec...

In previous studies of the respiratory mechanics of newborn infants no attempt has been made to relate the results to feeding, though Barrie (1968) has described increased intra-oesophageal pressure swings following tube-feeding. In the present paper a technique for the study of neonatal respiratory mechanics is described, and the effects of feeding on the respiratory work and pulmonary complia...

More than 30 years after its ®rst description, mortality associated with the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is still great, with reported rates between 30 and 60%. The range in mortality is partly because of the loose de®nition of both ARDS and acute lung injury (ALI), based on bilateral lung in®ltrates on X-ray, a left ventricular ®lling pressure <18 mm Hg and a PaO2/FIO2 of <300 m...

Respiratory mechanics is a difficult topic for instructors and students alike. Existing respiratory mechanics models are limited in their abilities to demonstrate any effects of rib cage movement on alveolar and intrapleural pressures. We developed a model that can be used in both large and small classroom settings. This model contains digital pressure displays and computer integration for real...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global healthcare problem. Studies vary widely in the reported frequency of mechanical ventilation in acute exacerbations of COPD. Invasive intubation and mechanical ventilation may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. A good understanding of the airway pathophysiology and lung mechanics in COPD is necessary to appropria...