CHANGES IN VENTILATION FUNCTION AND RESERVES OF GAS EXCHANGE IN CHILDREN WITH ACUTE BRONCHITIS

Abstract

Among the diseases of the lower part of respiratory system in children, acute bronchitis dominates, often with obstructive syndrome and ventilation disorders. To assess the severity of the obstructive syndrome spirometry is used, which is the "gold standard" for this purpose. It combines two groups of tests: spirography – graphical recording of changes in lung volumes during respiratory movements and pneumotachography – graphical recording of the air flow velocity during tidal and forced breathing. Among modern methods, non-invasive determination of blood oxygen saturation with pulse oximetry is becoming increasingly popular. The combined use of spirometry and pulse oximetry makes it possible to determine accurately the state and reserves of the cardiorespiratory system in a wide range of pathological changes. Objective. To learn the features of ventilation function and gas exchange in children with acute bronchitis. Materials and methods. The paper analyzes the results of a survey of 59 children with acute bronchitis. Patients underwent a clinical examination, spirometry, pulse oximetry; breath-hold tests were performed. The results of spirometry and pulse oximetry were compared with the data of clinically healthy children (23 children). Results. In children, the severity of bronchitis was moderate according to the BSS-7.79 ± 0.19 points, 30 patients had symptoms of obstructive syndrome. Spirometry recorded a decrease in forced respiratory volumes, peak forced expiratory flow and inspiratory flow. Pulse oximetry showed a relatively lower level of oxygen saturation in patients, which worsened during breath-hold tests. The obtained results indicate impaired ventilation and gas exchange in children with bronchitis, even with a mild course of the disease, especially in the presence of obstructive phenomena. Compensatory mechanisms for maintaining blood saturation based mainly on an increase in systemic blood flow due to an increase in heart rate. Conclusions. In acute bronchitis in children, ventilation and gas exchange rates decrease, even in those patients with a mild course. Compensatory mechanisms for maintaining blood saturation are based mainly on increased systemic blood flow due to increased heart rate.