Respiratory inductance plethysmography reference data in North-western Italian 6-years child population

Abstract

Respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP) has been used for more than three decades and enables noninvasive respiratory monitoring with minimal patient cooperation and effort in patients ranging from neonates to adults. It evaluates thoracic-abdominal movements and indirectly the functionality of the respiratory muscles, in particular of the diaphragm. However, reference values of RIP in all ages, but, in particular, in children are scanty and based on a very limited number of subjects. Aim of this study was to set a reference range with RIP in 6-years north-western Italian child population and to compare it with database of reference values available in literature (1). Sixty healthy 6-years old children were enrolled. We assessed RIP at rest in the supine, erected and seated positions. RIP recordings lasted 3’ each. Data were reported according to normal o non-normal data distribution. Positions were compared through repeated measurements ANOVA. Phase angle, measure of thoracoabdominal asynchrony, was significantly different according to position: seated vs upright and supine (p<0.001 both), and upright vs supine positions (p<0.01). Percentage of rib cage involvement (%RCi) resulted significantly different according to position: supine vs erected and seated (p<0.01 and p<0.001 respectively). Phase angle and %RCi were within the normality range (1). We conclude that reference RIP values here provided for north-western Italian child lie within those reported in literature (1). Furthermore, our data confirm that position in which RIP measurements are performed should be standardized to obtain comparable results. 1) Paediatric Respiratory Reviews (2018),https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prrv.2018.03.010