Reliability of dynamic and static compliance measurement in preterm babies

Publisher Summary Increasing attention has been focused on respiratory function analysis of full-term and preterm babies during the first few days of life. This chapter describes a study to evaluate the reliability of dynamic and static compliance measurement in preterm babies. Esophageal balloon function was tested using the occlusion technique. During occlusion of the airway, pressure measured at the mouth should be equal to pressure measured by the esophageal balloon, within the thorax. Occlusion in ventilated infants was produced by disconnecting the ventilator and obstructing the endotracheal tube with a finger. Occlusion in those babies not ventilated was achieved by placing a soft rubber mask over the nose and mouth, and obstructing the outlet to the mask once the baby was settled. Esophageal pressure can be measured accurately in only 56% of preterm infants. It appears that accurate results can be achieved in just as many sick as well preterms. Perhaps, therefore, lung disease and pressure maldistribution do not alone lead to inaccuracy but instead that position, a problem common to both groups, is critical. Difficulties over position may lead to problems in making serial measurements in a baby with balloons passed on several occasions.