Pulmonary resistance and state of inflation of lungs in normal subjects and in patients with airway obstruction

Abstract

The relationship between pulmonary resistance and the state of inflation of the lung was estimated throughout the expired vital capacity, using the multiple interrupter of Clements and Elam and a servo-spirometer. In normal subjects the pulmonary resistance was lowest near full inflation and remained relatively constant until about 80% of the vital capacity had been expired. It then rose abruptly and approached infinity at full expiration. In patients with obstructed airways, this relationship was altered in one of several ways: 1) normal resistance near full inflation increasing to high levels early in the expired vital capacity, 2) high resistance near full inflation with little further rise until late in expiration and 3) various combinations of the above. The first pattern probably reflects changes in the small, relatively flaccid airways while the second pattern probably reflects changes in the large, relatively rigid airways or in pulmonary viscous resistance. The type of relationship between resistance and lung volume also appears to influence the partition of the total lung capacity. Submitted on February 17, 1959