Non-invasive forced expiratory flow-volume curves to measure lung function in cats

Hylton Bark*, Ana Epstein, Ephraim Bar-Yishay, Alex Putilov, Simon Godfrey

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Forced expiratory flow-volume curves were performed in 15 cats using the non-invasive thoracic compression techniques developed for use in human infants. Cats breathed through a face mask and pneumotachygraph from which flow and volume were obtained. Thoracic compression was applied from an inflatable bag in a non-expandable jacket surrounding the animal. Bag inflation at end inspiration was initiated by a computer pulse to a pressurized chamber. Processed signals from the pneumotachygraph determined maximum-forced expiratory flow at lung volume equivalent to functional residual capacity (FRC), termed VmaxFRC. Different compression pressures were used, and the highest value from a technically satisfactory flow-volume loop was taken as the result. Mean (±95% CI) VmaxFRC was 422 (369-475) ml/s. Compared with infants of similar weight (VmaxFRC approximately 180 ml/s), cats had a much higher VmaxFRC. Tests repeated another day showed a mean (±95% CI) percentage difference between paired tests to be 2.8 (-12.6, +18.3)%. Non-invasive forced expiratory flow-volume measurements can be reliably obtained in sedated cats.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)49-54
Number of pages6
JournalRespiratory Physiology and Neurobiology
Volume155
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Jan 2007

Keywords

  • Feline
  • Forced expiratory flow-volume curves
  • V

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