Evaluation of Breathing Pattern and Dyspnea in Subjects With Tetraplegia
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2001-01-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Breathlessness is an extremely common and uncomfortable symptom that is reported in more than
two-thirds of persons with tetraplegia. This disordered pulmonary function is due to
respiratory muscle paralysis or to sympathetic denervation results in a restrictive
impairment and airway hyperreactivity, respectively. These restrictive and obstructive
dysfunctions have been associated with the symptom of breathlessness. However, mechanisms
contributing to dyspnea in persons who have tetraplegia are not well understood. It has been
demonstrated that persons with tetraplegia have an increased prevalence of breathlessness and
may have an altered breathing pattern. The purpose of this study is to determine the
breathing pattern at rest and measure the changes in breathing after a bronchodilator
treatment (a medicine commonly used to treat asthma that relaxes and opens up airways). The
determination of breathing pattern is done by measuring the movements in the chest wall while
breathing. This design will elucidate differences in breathing patterns between those with
tetraplegia and controls, as well as demonstrate the effect of bronchodilatation on motor
drive and timing. Knowledge of the intraindividual variability and mean values of the
components of the breathing pattern will improve our understanding of breathlessness in these
individuals.
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
US Department of Veterans Affairs VA Office of Research and Development