Clinical Application of the Forced Oscillation Technique in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

The Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) is a non-invasive method of measuring respiratory mechanics that does not require patient’s cooperation (1). FOT measurements are suitable for preterm infants during mechanical ventilation and respiratory support at the bedside in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) (2). The lung mechanics information provided by FOT allows the clinician to identify the optimal Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) for implementing a lung protective ventilation strategy (3), to identify lung volume de-recruitment, to evaluate lung response to treatments and to monitor disease progression (2, 4, 5).

During this webinar, Prof. Raffaele Dellacà and Dr Anna Lavizzari will discuss the following:

• What is the Forced Oscillation Technique and what is measured?
• Clinical application of FOT in the NICU
• FOT as a lung protective strategy for vulnerable patients in the NICU
• Case studies of using the FOT on ventilated neonates

References:

1. Veneroni C, Dahl MJ, Lavizzari A, Dawson E, Rebentisch A, Studstill S, Bowen S, Albertine KH, Dellaca RL. Non-invasive measurements of respiratory system mechanical properties by the forced oscillation technique in spontaneously breathing, mixed-breed, normal term lambs from birth to five months of age. Physiol Meas. 2019 Nov 4;40(10):105007. doi: 10.1088/1361-6579/ab3493. PMID: 31341100; PMCID: PMC7417173.

2. Lavizzari A, Veneroni C, Beretta F, Ottaviani V, Fumagalli C, Tossici M, Colnaghi M, Mosca F, Dellacà RL. Oscillatory mechanics at birth for identifying infants requiring surfactant: a prospective, observational trial. Respir Res. 2021 Dec 20;22(1):314. doi: 10.1186/s12931-021-01906-6. PMID: 34930247; PMCID: PMC8686669.

3. Linda Wallström, Chiara Veneroni, Emanuela Zannin, Raffaele L. Dellacà, Richard Sindelar. European Respiratory Journal May 2020, 55 (5) 1901650; DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01650-2019

4. Dellaca RL, Andersson Olerud M, Zannin E, Kostic P, Pompilio PP, Hedenstierna G, et al. Lung recruitment assessed by total respiratory system input reactance. Intensive Care Med. 2009;35(12):2164–2172.

5. Duiverman EJ, Den Boer JA, Roorda RJ, Rooyackers CMHM, Valstar M, Kerrebijn KF. Lung function and bronchial responsiveness measured by forced oscillometry after bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Arch Dis Child 1988;63:727–732.