Interrupter technique in infancy: Higher airway resistance and lower short‐term variability in preterm versus term infants

Abstract

Our results suggest that differences in airway mechanics between term and preterm infants can be assessed with the interrupter technique during early infancy. Before clinical application of Rint measurements in this age group, reasons underlying the variability of measurements should be further investigated.

Breathing variability—implications for anaesthesiology and intensive care

“…born before 37 gestational weeks), quantitative variability of tidal volume and endtidal expiratory CO 2 is significantly lower in patients with chronic lung disease of infancy than in patients without supplementary oxygen or CPAP [43]. At the postmenstrual age of 42-50 weeks, the quantitative variability of airway resistance is significantly higher in term infants than in preterm infants [44]. In preterm born infants, lower quantitative variability of tidal volume at a postmenstrual age of 44 weeks is an important predictor of re-hospitalization due to respiratory disease in infancy [45].…”

Pediatric Pulmonology year in review 2017: Part 3

“…full term and preterm infants ranging from 42 to 50 weeks postmenstrual age. 36 They found that Rint was elevated in premature infants, but there was high intra-measurement variability. The latter finding may limit the clinical application of Rint in preterm infants.…”

“…Pulmonary function testing in infants remains challenging. Usemann et al measured interrupter resistance (Rint) in unsedated full term and preterm infants ranging from 42 to 50 weeks postmenstrual age . They found that Rint was elevated in premature infants, but there was high intra‐measurement variability.…”