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Background Anaesthesia based on inhalational agents has profound effects on chest wall configuration and breathing pattern. The effects of propofol are less well characterised. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of propofol anaesthesia on chest wall motion during spontaneous breathing and positive pressure ventilation. Methods We studied 16 subjects undergoing elective surgery requiring general anaesthesia. Chest wall volumes were continuously monitored by opto-electronic plethysmography during quiet breathing (QB) in the conscious state, induction of anaesthesia, spontaneous breathing during anaesthesia (SB), pressure support ventilation (PSV) and pressure control ventilation (PCV) after muscle paralysis. Results The total chest wall volume decreased by 0.41 +/- 0.08 l immediately after induction by equal reductions in the rib cage and abdominal volumes. An increase in the rib cage volume was then seen, resulting in total chest wall volumes 0.26 +/- 0.09, 0.24 +/- 0.10, 0.22 +/- 0.10 l lower than baseline, during SB, PSV and PCV, respectively. During QB, rib cage volume displacement corresponded to 34.2 +/- 5.3% of the tidal volume. During SB, PSV and PCV, this increased to 42.2 +/- 4.9%, 48.2 +/- 3.6% and 46.3 +/- 3.2%, respectively, with a corresponding decrease in the abdominal contribution. Breathing was initiated by the rib cage muscles during SB. Conclusion Propofol anaesthesia decreases end-expiratory chest wall volume, with a more pronounced effect on the diaphragm than on the rib cage muscles, which initiate breathing after apnoea.

PURPOSE: ALI and ARDS are associated with lung volume derecruitment, usually counteracted by PEEP and recruitment maneuvers (RM), which should be accurately tailored to the patient's needs. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of monitoring the amount of derecruited lung by the forced oscillation technique (FOT). METHODS: We studied six piglets (26 +/- 2.5 kg) ventilated by a mechanical ventilator connected to a FOT device that produced sinusoidal pressure forcing at 5 Hz. The percentage of non-aerated lung tissue (V (tiss)NA%) was measured by whole-body CT scans at end-expiration with zero end-expiratory pressure. Respiratory system oscillatory input reactance (X (rs)) was measured simultaneously to CT and used to derive oscillatory compliance (C (X5)), which we used as an index of recruited lung. Measurements were performed at baseline and after several interventions in the following sequence: mono-lateral reabsorption atelectasis, RM, bi-lateral derecruitment induced by broncho-alveolar lavage and a second RM. RESULTS: By pooling data from all experimental conditions and all pigs, C (X5) was linearly correlated to V (tiss)NA% (r (2) = 0.89) regardless of the procedure used to de-recruit the lung (reabsorption atelectasis or pulmonary lavage). Separate correlation analysis on single pigs showed similar regression equations, with an even higher coefficient of determination (r (2) = 0.91 +/- 0.07). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that FOT and the measurement of C (X5) could be a useful tool for the non-invasive measurement of lung volume recruitment/derecruitment.