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This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: chest.07-1102v1 133/3/729    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Article Archive Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Antonio Fiz, J. Articles by Pasterkamp, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Antonio Fiz, J. Articles by Pasterkamp, H.

Effect of body position on lung sounds in healthy young men

¹ Manitoba Institute of Child Health, Winnipeg, Canada, (Institution where the work was performed) ² University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada ³ University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA ⁴ Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

Pasterkamp{at}umanitoba.ca

Abstract

BackgroundThe effect of body position on the generation of abnormal respiratory sounds, e.g. snoring and stridor, is well recognized. Postural effects on normal lung sounds have been studied in less detail but need to be clarified if respiratory acoustic measurements are to be used effectively in clinical practice.

MethodsLung sounds and airflow were recorded in 6 healthy male subjects. Two acoustic sensors were placed over corresponding sites of the right and left chest, first anteriorly and then on the back. Subjects were studied in sitting, supine, prone and lateral decubitus positions. Lung sound intensity (LSI) was determined at flows of 0.4-0.6 L/s and 0.8-1.2 L/s within frequency bands of 150-300 Hz and 300-600 Hz.

ResultsLSI was greater over the dependent lungs in the lateral decubitus positions. In the sitting position, LSI was greater on the left compared with the right posterior lung at the same airflow within the same frequency bands. Compared with sitting, neither the supine nor prone position caused a significant change in LSI.

ConclusionsOur study confirms previously reported asymmetries of normal lung sounds. The insignificant change of flow-specific LSI between the upright and horizontal positions in healthy subjects is encouraging for the clinical use of respiratory acoustic measurements. Further studies should address postural effects on lung sounds in patients with acute lung injury and other lung pathologies.

Key Words: Respiratory sounds • Respiratory mechanics • Posture • Prone position • Supine position