Accuracy evaluation of dynamic volume measurements performed by opto-electronic plethysmograph, by using a pulmonary simulator.

Opto-electronic systems (OS) are motion analysis systems, employed in different clinical applications. Optoelectronic plethysmograph (OEP) is a particular OS able to measure pulmonary volumes, starting from marker displacements, placed on the thorax. The aim of this work is to assess the OED's accuracy on volume measurements, by using a volumetric respiratory simulator (RS). The RS is realized in order to simulate the human quiet breathing and an algorithm computes volume variations. Different trials have been carried out, by measuring volume through OEP and comparing with volume computed by algorithm. Results show OEP accuracy on tidal volume measurement does not depend on thorax displacement's magnitude and it ranges from 9% to 20%. Therefore, accuracy of OEP on dynamic volume measurements appears not to be influenced by thorax's movement magnitude.

Evaluation of pulmonary rehabilitation after lung resection through opto-electronic plethysmography.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) and post-operative complications on lung cancer patients by means of opto-electronic plethysmography (OEP). FEV1 and FVC have been measured through OEP on 13 lung cancer patients, before and after lobectomy and after pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). In every patient, FEV1 decreases after surgery, whereas FVC decreases only in 8 patients. Mean FEV1 and FVC decrease in every compartment of chest wall (CW) and in CW after lobectomy and improve in post-rehabilitation phase (ΔFEV1(CW)=+31%; ΔFVC(CW) = +13%). The highest positive variation of FEV1 has been measured in rib-cage abdominal compartment (ΔFEV1(RCa) =+59%) and of FVC in abdomen (ΔFVC(AB) = +24%), after PR.

A preliminary efficacy evaluation performed by opto-electronic plethysmography of asymmetric respiratory rehabilitation.

The aim of present work is to test an optoelectronic system as diagnostic device to preliminary assess the efficacy of asymmetric respiratory rehabilitation. The respiratory rehabilitation efficacy, in terms of tidal volume variations, has been assessed for 14 patients undergone left or right superior lobectomy. Tidal volume variations of six torso compartments have been measured in pre-surgery, post-surgery and post-rehabilitation phases. Significant difference of total chest wall tidal volume has not been observed between the three phases. Tidal volume differences have been observed between paretic and healthy side. Significant tidal volume increase has been observed for non-operated side between pre-surgery and postrehabilitation phases during quiet breathing, mean tidal volume increases of about 32%. Measurement results indicate that respiratory rehabilitation is more effective on non-operated side which, in turn, compensates the operated one. The optoelectronic plethysmograph appears to be a suitable instrument for evaluation of respiratory rehabilitation in case of respiratory volumes asymmetry.