Ventilatory Efficiency, Capacity and Lung Volumes in Healthy Children

Abstract

The Ventilatory efficiency of healthy children was investigated with a N2 wash-out technique. N2 elimination time was considerably shorter than in adults and the reproducibility lower. The reproducibility of wash-out volume, functional residual capacity (FRC) and lung clearance index (LCI) was as high for the children as that reported for adults. The mean and SD values of LCI agreed with those found in adults, investigated with the same equipment. The range of the Lichtneckert-Lundgren index of alveolar ventilation (IAV) was in agreement with that found in adults. Lung volumes and ventilatory capacity differed in some respects from the findings in earlier investigations of healthy Swedish children.

Key Words:

• Healthy children
• index of alveolar ventilation
• lung clearance index
• Ventilatory capacity and lung volumes
• Ventilatory efficiency