Effect of Electrode Belt Used for Lung Monitoring With Electrical Impedance Tomography on Tidal Volume of Healthy Volunteers

Ten healthy, spontaneously breathing volunteers were in supine semi-sitting position and their tidal volume was measured for 15 min using spirometer Ergostick (Geratherm) twice: with electrode belt placed around the subjcest thorax in the level of 4th to 6th intercostal space in the parasternal line, and then without the electrode belt. The subjects were breathing for approx. 15 min sponatenously with deep, forced breathing in the last minute.

The stiff silicone electrode belt used for lung monitoring with electrical impedance tomography system PulmoVista 500 (Dräger Medical) is being placed tightly around the subjects chest in order to monitor distribution of the ventilation. The aim of the study is to analyse the differences in tidal volumes of the spontaneously breathing subject with and without the electrode belt.

Since the electrode belt is relatively stiff and the manufacturer recommends putting the belt on tightly, there is a possibility that it affects the breathing effort of the spontaneously breathing patients, which could possibly lead to lower tidal volumes.