Purpose: Scoliosis is one of the most common spinal deformities that affect chest wall mechanics. Scoliosis results in ventilator disorders and respiratory muscle weakness. However, the mechanism of these disorders is still unknown. The main objective of this study was to identify the intensity of respiratory muscles activity in patients with idiopathic scoliosis compare with healthy indi...

BACKGROUND Tracheostomy decreases airway resistance and work of breathing. No comprehensive data are available on respiratory mechanics after tracheostomy decannulation. We evaluated respiratory mechanics after decannulation. METHODS Twenty-five patients with tracheostomy were included. Measurement of arterial blood gases, air-flow, and esophageal pressure during spontaneous breathing were ev...

The pathophysiology of failure to wean from mechanical ventilation consists of depressed central respiratory drive, impaired respiratory mechanics, respiratory muscle weakness, increased load, impaired gas exchange, and compromised cardiovascular performance. Among patients with weaning failure, depressed central respiratory drive occurs in only a small portion (approximately 10%),1 whereas mos...

The forced oscillation technique (FOT) is a method for non-invasively assessing respiratory mechanics that is applicable both in paralysed and non-paralysed patients. As the FOT requires a minimal modification of the conventional ventilation setting and does not interfere with the ventilation protocol, the technique is potentially useful to monitor patient mechanics during invasive and noninvas...

AIMS To compare serum concentrations and effects on respiratory mechanics and haemodynamics of salbutamol administered by small volume nebuliser (SVN) and metered dose inhaler (MDI) plus spacer. METHODS Blinded, randomised, crossover study in 12 intubated infants and children (mean age 17.8 months) receiving inhaled salbutamol therapy. Subjects received salbutamol as 0.15 mg/kg by SVN and fou...

BACKGROUND Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and supplemental oxygen have become the mainstay of neonatal respiratory support in preterm infants. Although oxygen therapy is associated with respiratory morbidities including bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), the long-term effects of CPAP on lung function are largely unknown. We used a hyperoxia-induced mouse model of BPD to explore the e...

BACKGROUNDS The effects of acute blood volume expansion (BVE) on the respiratory mechanics of normal animals have been not extensively studied. The subject is of both theoretical and practical interest since BVE is a frequent medical intervention, and the associated increase in cardiac output may occur in different physiopathological situations. OBJECTIVES To describe the changes in the param...