Effects of lung volume on airway closure during recovery from acute severe asthma

Abstract

The effect of lung volume on airway closure in severe asthma has not been extensively studied. Methods: Six intubated, mechanically ventilated patients (17 to 71 years of age) recovering from acute sever asthma were studied. The amplitude of cardiogenic airway pressure oscillations during external airflow interruption at different lung volumes was used to explore lung volume dependence of airway closure. ... Conclusions: The data suggest that widespread airway closure frequently does not occur when lung volume decreases from end-inspiration to FRC in patients recovering from acute sever asthma, possibly because an increase in FRC opposes the development of airway closure.