Forced Oscillations in Applied Respiratory Physiology: Clinical Applications - Abstract
n the present study, a review of the literature that examines the widely used clinical applications of Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) and Impulse Oscillometry (IOS) is attempted, in order to evaluate the contribution of the method to laboratory lung function testing. The typical modifications of respiratory impedance components and their diagnostic value are pointed out, as well as the parameters of optimal validity towards pathophysiology survey, but also the evaluation of effectiveness of treatment, for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma, in stable disease and exacerbations. Moreover, the current data to evaluate upper intrathoracic and extrathoracic airways obstruction is presented, but also to evaluate the state of diseases with restrictive and mixed (obstructive/restrictive) pathophysiology. Finally, there is an individual report about the correlation between the frequency and the intensity of abnormal oscillometric indices and common signs and symptoms of patients suffering from above diseases, but also the correlation between these indices and established values of spirometry and body-plythesmography. In this review, studies on pediatric populations are not included and all the data referred to, concern adult patients.