ABSTRACT
Techniques are now available which now make it possible to obtain a comprehensive picture of the lung function of a neonate.28,70 In the past, the results obtained were highly influenced by the characteristics of the equipment used and the methods of data collection and analysis, so that it was difficult to compare the results from different laboratories. This problem has to some extent been resolved by the European Respiratory Society and the American Thoracic Society’s task force on standards for infant respiratory function testing which has provided guidelines for specifications.36,37
Despite these problems, infant lung function tests have provided very important information on the normal physiology of the neonatal lung, the process of adaptation in the perinatal period,112 and how these processes are adversely affected by neonatal pulmonary pathology. They have also been useful in the evaluation of new therapies, in the development of management strategies and in the prediction of outcome.42 Their role as diagnostic tools is not so clearly defined, although the introduction of less invasive techniques is likely to lead to their increased use in optimizing therapy for individual babies. The aim of this chapter is to provide information on the techniques available, their clinical role, research potential and limitations.
