The effect of inert gas choice on multiple breath washout in healthy infants: differences in lung function outcomes and breathing pattern.

The detrimental effects on breathing pattern during multiple breath inert gas washout (MBW) have been described with different inhaled gases [100% oxygen (O) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF)] but detailed comparisons are lacking. N- and SF-based tests were performed during spontaneous quiet sleep in 10 healthy infants aged 0.7-1.