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Structural and Functional Characteristics of Healthy and Injured Porcine Lungs During Deflation: A Quantitative CT Imaging Analysis
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Structural and Functional Characteristics of Healthy and Injured Porcine Lungs During Deflation: A Quantitative CT Imaging Analysis

Emmanuel A Akor, Jian Gao, Junfeng Guo, Bing Han, Andrea F Cruz, Jacob Herrmann, Sarah E Gerard, Monica L Hawley, Gary E Christensen, Joseph M Reinhardt, …
Journal of applied physiology (1985), Vol.138(6), pp.1615-1627
06/01/2025
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00443.2024
PMCID: PMC12208140
PMID: 40411792
url
https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00443.2024View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by pathologic and heterogeneous alterations in the mechanical properties of lung tissue. While several techniques exist that allow for assessment of global lung mechanics in health and disease, few techniques allow for quantitative assessment of regional mechanics, which is important for understanding the impact of therapeutic interventions on local structure-function relationships. X-ray computed tomography (CT) is a widely available imaging modality for assessment of regional lung structure, given its high spatial resolution, as well as its ability to provide detailed information on regional anatomic and pathologic features. Quantitative computed tomography (qCT) has evolved into an important tool for assessment of regional and global mechanical changes associated with deranged structure-function relationships in many lung diseases, especially ARDS. The purpose of this study was to determine how specific structural and functional characteristics of the acutely injured lung may be altered, as assessed with various qCT imaging metrics. Such alterations may serve as a template for characterizing the severity of ARDS in patients. We evaluated and compared pressure-volume relationships, distensibility, aeration, tissue texture, and parenchymal deformation in healthy and injured lungs of anesthetized pigs, using volumetric CT images obtained during static breath holds from 30 to 0 cmH O airway pressure. We demonstrate how qCT imaging provides unique insight into structure-function changes associated with acute lung injury, and how such techniques may enhance our understanding of regional and global parenchymal mechanics in patients with ARDS or other forms of lung injury.
Computed Tomography acute respiratory distress syndrome regional mechanics lung parenchyma quantitative analysis

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