Assessment of the broncodilator response using different methods: impulse oscilometry vs spirometry.

Introduction: Impulse oscillometry (IOS) is a diagnostic technique for the assessment of airway resistance, non-invasively and with minimal patient cooperation. Unlike other techniques that measure airway resistance, the parameters come from the response of the respiratory system to an external stimulus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between IOS and spirometry(EF) in a children population at baseline and in the response to bronchodilator test. Method: We performed IOS using a Jaeger Master screen equipment. They were applied in the mouth and, through a loudspeaker, pressure waves in the form of pulses in every 0.1 seconds on spontaneous breathing. We evaluated the correlation at baseline and after BD between IOS and spirometric parameters. Three acceptable and reproducible maneuvers were performed, both for EF and IOS. Results: We included 58 patients with diagnosis of asthma and controlled in Pediatric Pneumology. Oscilometry and spirometry were performed in all patients, at baseline and after administration of B2 agonist. In table 1 we presented the correlation between the different parameters at baseline and in the response to BD. Conclusions: 1. We obtained aceptable correlations between both techniques at baseline and in the BD response. 2. Impulse oscilometry is easy to perform and shows a good correlation with spirometric parameters, so it could be used in the pediatric age to evaluate bronchodilator response.