The volume of trapped gas in healthy children aged 7–16

Abstract

A new and sensitive lung function test, the volume of trapped gas (VTG), as well as conventional lung function tests were measured in 22 boys and 28 girls, aged 7 to 16, all healthy. The VTG was best correlated to total lung capacity (TLC) and also showed a good correlation to height (H), vital capacity (VC), was-out volume (WOV), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). VTG/TLC% or VTG/VC% are probably the best variables for clinical use. The error of a single determination in VTG was only 6 ml, and in VTG/TLC% it was 0.16, giving a variance of about 10%. The reproducibility of VTG and VTG/TLC% must be regarded as good. The VTG test can be performed in children aged 5 and older.