The interrupter technique is a convenient and sensitive technique for studying airway function in subjects who cannot actively participate in (forced) ventilatory function tests. Reference values for preschool children exist but are lacking for children > 7 yrs. Reference values were obtained for expiratory interrupter resistance (Rint,e) in 208 healthy Dutch Caucasian children 3-13 yrs of age. A curvilinear relationship between Rint,e and height was observed, similar to published airways resistance data measured by plethysmography. No significant differences in cross-sectional trend or level of Rint,e were observed according to sex. It was found that Z-scores could be used to express individual Rint,e values and to describe intra- and interindividual differences based on the reference equation: 10logRint,e = 0.645 - 0.00668 × standing height (cm) kPa.L-1.s-1 and residual SD (0.093 kPa.L-1.s-1). Expiratory interrupter resistance provides a tool for clinical and epidemiological assessment of airway function in a large age range.

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doi.org/10.1183/09031936.02.01262001, hdl.handle.net/1765/67293
The European Respiratory Journal
Department of Pediatric Surgery

Merkus, P., Arets, H., Joosten, K., Siero, A., Brouha, M., Mijnsbergen, J. Y., … van der Ent, C. (2002). Measurements of interrupter resistance: Reference values for children 3-13 yrs of age. The European Respiratory Journal, 20(4), 907–911. doi:10.1183/09031936.02.01262001