Measurement of regional lung function by tetrapolar electrical impedance plethysmography.

This study demonstrates the clinical feasibility of atraumatically measuring dynamic regional lung 
function with tetrapolar electrical impedance plethysmography (EIP) in the pediatric age 
group. A tetrapolar electrode system was used because of its ability 
to detect local baseline and pulsatile impedance changes, minimal electrode- tissue 
impedance interference, and uniform current distribution. Studies performed on 4 children 
4 to 15 years old with various pulmonary diseases are presented. 
The information obtained on their regional ventilation and pulsatile perfusion by 
EIP was found to agree closely with pulmonary ventilation and perfusion 
scans. In one case, EIP detected pulsatile perfusion abnormalities which were 
not apparent in the non-pulsatile perfusion scan but were demonstrated by 
cineangiography. It is concluded that tetrapolar EIP can provide safe, reliable 
regional information about ventilation and perfusion in diseased lungs, and because 
of its atraumatic approach, is technically most suitable for use in 
children. 