Forced Oscillation Technique may be able to detect early smoking-induced respiratory changes:

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a growing cause of mortality worldwide and is considered a major public health problem. Usually, the study of the mechanical properties of the lung (resistance, compliance, etc.) has relied more on spirometry than the forced oscillation technique (FOT). This article suggests that the FOT could be used as an alternative to spirometry in identifying early stages of COPD. The advantage of identifying COPD sooner is that it is more 'reversible' when less damage to the lungs has already been done. More specifically, this article explores FOT's ability to detect changes in the mechanics of the lungs due to smoking-a main cause of COPD. The article says that "the study shows FOT can be used to detect early smoking-induced respiratory changes while [the] pathologic changes are still potentially reversible".

What is FOT? From what I read, FOT uses small-amplitude pressure oscillations superimposed on normal tidal breathing to measure respiratory mechanics. The main advantage of FOT is that the burden on the cooperation of the patient is less than compared with spirometry. In spirometry, the patient has to take large breaths, exhale and inhale with maximum effort, etc. FOT just requires tidal breathing. The article also claims that the measurements of FOT are more sensitive than spirometry measurements.

This article interested me because it centered around topics that were discussed in class and brought them into a more 'real' perspective. For example, the article used FOT to show approximately how much lung resistance and compliance changed with how many packs of cigarettes a given patient smoked per year. Hopefully, as more advanced methods of measuring lung mechanics are developed to measure the effects of smoking, the danger of chronic smoking will become more apparent to the general public. Maybe this could facilitate less chronic smoking and less of a healthcare burden in the future? Maybe not? Either way, the article suggests that more widespread use of the FOT will facilitate scientific advances in lung physiology and treatment/prevention of COPD.

Michael Serafino

VTPP 435-502

URL:

http://www.biomedical-engineering-online.com/content/8/1/22