AbstractsMedical & Health Science

Premature infants are at risk for low end-expiratory lung volume (EELV), which may compromise lung function and lead to respiratory failure. Respiratory interventions and nursing procedures are aimed to improve EELV in these infants. In this thesis, Pauline van der Burg has investigated the effects of these clinical interventions on lung volume, using electrical impedance tomography (EIT), a non-invasive lung volume measurement technique. This thesis it once again shows that EIT monitoring is feasible in preterm infants and, more importantly, adds support to its use because the volume changes measured in a cross-section of the thorax are representative for the whole lung in preterm infants. Moreover, it provides a clear example of how regional information obtained with EIT can assist the clinician in detecting asymmetry in lung ventilation as, for instance, is seen in case of unilateral atelectasis. Finally, it improves our understanding of preterm lung physiology and the effect of different less or non-invasive respiratory interventions, such as respiratory support, non-invasive surfactant administration, and body positioning. This information can be used to select the optimal intervention for common clinical problems in preterm infants.