Sulfur hexafluoride multiple breath washin and washout outcomes in infants are not interchangeable.

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF) multiple-breath washout (MBW) assesses ventilation inhomogeneity, as an early marker of obstructive respiratory diseases. Primary outcomes are customarily washout-derived, and it is unclear whether the preceding SF-washin can provide similar estimates. We aimed to assess comparability of primary SF-MBW outcomes between washin and washout phases of infant SF-MBW data measured with the WBreath (ndd Medizintechnik AG, Zurich, Switzerland) and Spiroware (Eco Medics AG, Duernten, Switzerland) MBW-setups, respectively.

Optimized algorithm for speed-of-sound-based infant sulfur hexafluoride multiple-breath washout measurements.

Introduction: Major methodological issues with the existing algorithm (WBreath) used for the analysis of speed-of-sound-based infant sulfur hexafluoride (SF) multiple-breath washout (MBW) measurements lead to implausible results and complicate the comparison between different age groups and centers.

Methods: We developed OASIS-a novel algorithm to analyze speed-of-sound-based infant SF MBW measurements. This algorithm uses known context of the measurements to replace the dependence of WBreath on model input parameters.

A computerized tool for the systematic visual quality assessment of infant multiple-breath washout measurements.

Background: Multiple-breath washout (MBW) is a sensitive method for assessing lung volumes and ventilation inhomogeneity in infants, but remains prone to artefacts (e.g., sighs).

Signal-correction errors in the EasyOne Pro LAB multiple-breath washout device significantly impact outcomes in children and adults.

Multiple-breath washout (MBW) is an established technique to assess functional residual capacity (FRC) and ventilation inhomogeneity in the lung. Indirect calculation of nitrogen concentration requires accurate measurement of gas concentrations. To investigate the accuracy of the CO concentration and molar mass (MM) values used for the indirect calculation of nitrogen concentration in a commercial MBW device [EasyOne Pro LAB (EOPL), ndd Medizintechnik AG, Switzerland] and its impact on outcomes.

Quality Control of Nitrogen Multiple Breath Washout in a Multicenter Pediatric Asthma Study.

Background: Nitrogen multiple breath washout (N2MBW) is a lung function test increasingly used in small airway diseases. Quality criteria have not yet been globally implemented and time-consuming retrospective overreading is necessary. Little data has been published on children with recurrent wheeze or asthma from multicentered studies.

Pulmonary inflammatory response and immunomodulation to multiple trauma and hemorrhagic shock in pigs.

Background: Patients suffering from severe trauma experience substantial immunological stress. Lung injury is a known risk factor for the development of posttraumatic complications, but information on the long-term course of the pulmonary inflammatory response and treatment with mild hypothermia are scarce.

Aim: To investigate the pulmonary inflammatory response to multiple trauma and hemorrhagic shock in a porcine model of combined trauma and to assess the immunomodulatory properties of mild hypothermia.

Breath detection algorithms affect multiple-breath washout outcomes in pre-school and school age children.

Background: Accurate breath detection is essential for the computation of outcomes in the multiple-breath washout (MBW) technique. This is particularly important in young children, where irregular breathing is common, and the designation of inspirations and expirations can be challenging.

Aim: To investigate differences between a commercial and a novel breath-detection algorithm and to characterize effects on MBW outcomes in children.

Do clinimetric properties of LCI change after correction of signal processing?

Background: The recently described sensor-crosstalk error in the multiple-breath washout (MBW) device Exhalyzer D (Eco Medics AG) could highly influence clinimetric properties and the current interpretation of MBW results. This study reanalyzes MBW data from clinical routine in the corrected software version Spiroware® 3.3.

Are children born by cesarean delivery at higher risk for respiratory sequelae?

Background: Globally, the number of children born by cesarean delivery is constantly increasing. However, hormonal and physiological changes associated with labor and vaginal delivery are considered necessary for lung maturation.

Objective: We aimed to assess whether the mode of delivery is associated with changes in respiratory and atopic outcomes during infancy and at school age.

Correction of sensor crosstalk error in Exhalyzer D multiple-breath washout device significantly impacts outcomes in children with cystic fibrosis.

Nitrogen multiple-breath washout is an established technique to assess functional residual capacity and ventilation inhomogeneity in the lung. Accurate measurement of gas concentrations is essential for the appropriate calculation of clinical outcomes. We investigated the accuracy of oxygen and carbon dioxide gas sensor measurements used for the indirect calculation of nitrogen concentration in a commercial multiple-breath washout device (Exhalyzer D, Eco Medics AG, Duernten, Switzerland) and its impact on functional residual capacity and lung clearance index.

Respiratory symptoms do not reflect functional impairment in early CF lung disease.

Background: Lung disease can develop within the first year of life in infants with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, the frequency and severity of respiratory symptoms in infancy are not known.

Methods: We assessed respiratory symptoms in 50 infants with CF and 50 healthy matched controls from two prospective birth cohort studies.

Shedding light into the black box of infant multiple-breath washout.

Background: Multiple-breath inert gas washout (MBW) is a sensitive technique to assess lung volumes and ventilation inhomogeneity in infancy. Poor agreement amongst commercially available setups and a lack of transparency in the underlying algorithms for the computation of infant MBW outcomes currently limit the widespread application of MBW as a surveillance tool in early lung disease.

Methods: We determined all computational steps in signal processing and the calculation of MBW outcomes in the current infant WBreath/Exhalyzer D setup (Exhalyzer D device, Eco Medics AG; WBreath software version 3.