[Pulmonary function test: The testing of children].

In paediatrics, the pulmonary function test (PFT) is most often performed to support the diagnosis or in follow-up of asthma patients. Whatever the pathology responsible for respiratory symptoms and/or functional impairment, repeated PFTs make it possible to establish a prognosis (pulmonary function trajectories…) and to orient preventive interventions. PFT can be performed routinely from the age of three years, provided that the following requirements are met: suitable techniques and equipment, staff trained to apply the techniques and to receive young children, reference values for each technique indicating the limits of normal values and of between-test significant variation.

Early follow-up of lung disease in infants with cystic fibrosis using the raised volume rapid thoracic compression technique and computed tomography during quiet breathing.

Background: Among the different techniques used to monitor lung disease progression in infants with CF diagnosed by Newborn screening (NBS), raised volume-rapid thoracic compression (RVRTC) remains a promising tool. However, the need of sedation and positive pressure ventilation considerably limits its clinical use. We recently described a semi-quantitative method to evaluate air trapping by chest tomography during quite breathing without sedation (CTqb score).