Abstract
Objectives: The purpose was to study the efficacy of a proposed breathing intolerance index for justifying ventilator use by patients with pulmonary or chest wall diseases and to compare with values obtained from healthy controls. Design: A total of 42 patients with lung/chest wall disease, including 11 ventilator users and 25 age-matched controls, were studied. The breathing intolerance index was defined as (Ti/Ttot) X (Vt/VC), where Ti = inspiratory time of one breath (in seconds), Ttot = total time of one breath (in seconds), Vt = tidal volume (in milliliters) at rest, and VC = vital capacity (in milliliters). A digital spirometer with custom computer software was used. Results: The examinations were completed uneventfully. The mean breathing intolerance index values of the 25 healthy volunteers, the 31 nonventilator user patients, and the 11 users of nocturnal noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation were 0.050 ± 0.009 (mean ± standard deviation), 0.087 ± 0.022, and 0.186 ± 0.038, respectively. The breathing intolerance indices of the ventilator users were significantly greater (P < 0.0001) than those of the other nonventilator user groups, and there was no overlap in values. Conclusions: Ventilator users have a significantly higher breathing intolerance index than nonventilator users. The index may be useful for justifying ventilator use.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 24-30 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation |
Volume | 85 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2006 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
- Rehabilitation
Keywords
- Breathing Intolerance Index
- Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
- Home Mechanical Ventilation
- Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation
- Respiratory Insufficiency
- Ventilator Weaning