[Measurement of total respiratory system compliance of infants and small children]

Abstract

With the constant-flow method (Pulse method) and the standard method total respiratory system compliance (CT) were measured in 54 infants and small children who were free of lung and heart diseases and received assisted ventilation under general anesthesia before operation. The results showed that CT of the infants and small children appeared to be linearly related to age. The specific total compliance of each age group was not significantly different (P > 0.05). Therefore, within the age range of infants and small children, the mean +/- s of specific total compliance could be used as normal reference value for clinical use. The CT of the two methods were significantly related (r = 0.98, P < 0.001). Pulse method was proved to be a convenient method for monitoring the changes of CT in infants and small children during ventilator treatment.