Airway closure as a function of age

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Abstract

Alveolar Pan2 tracings were examined after VC inspirations of O2 in subjects aged 7–50. Abrupt changes in slope of the alveolar plateau signified the onset of airway closure. Among adults, the volume at which closure occurred increased linearly with age; this accounted for the age dependent increase in ΔPan2 of the alveolar plateau which was seen in adults. It is suggested that changes in closing volume were likely due to changes in lung elastic recoil, rather than to changes in the tendency for airways to collapse. Children showed evidence for airway closure at the same lung volume as adults aged 20–29. Children also showed very flat plateaux with damped cardiogenic oscillations.

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Supported, in part, by the Medical Research Council of Canada and the John Hartford Foundation, Inc. of the U.S.A.

2

Scholar of the Medical Research Council of Canada.

3

Medical Student, McGill University.

4

Present address : University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland.

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