Effects of intercostal nerve blocks on pulmonary mechanics in healthy XXXX .

@entity1 @entity1568 @entity1341 @entity39205 @entity616
Bilateral block of the 5th through the 11th intercostal nerves was induced in 16 healthy @entity1 . In eight of the @entity1 , @entity1341 0.25% was used and in the other eight, @entity39205 0.5%. Before and after induction of the block flow/volume curves, maximal airway pressures, and pulmonary compliance, were recorded, and helium spirometry and multiple and single breath @entity1568 wash-outs were performed. There were no differences between the results in the two groups, and the material was therefore pooled. Total lung capacity was decreased by 4%. There was no increase in residual volume, though the maximal expiratory airway pressure decreased by 7%. There was an 8% decrease in functional residual capacity. Pulmonary recoil appeared to be unchanged, as also did the effort-independent peak expiratory flow rates. According to the pulmonary @entity1568 clearance index, the overall pulmonary time constant did not alter, while the slope of the alveolar plateau in the single breath @entity1568 wash-out test increased by 9%. The significance of the latter finding is unclear, but it is concluded that the @entity616 had no obvious effects on pulmonary mechanics, the changes observed rather being attributable to effects on the chest wall.
