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La pandemia de COVID-19 plantea retos y desafíos para la salud pública y para la provisión de servicios de salud en el mundo, y Colombia no es la excepción. Con la evidencia disponible hasta el momento, se sabe que el mecanismo de transmisión más probable del SARS-CoV-2 es a distancia por gotas respiratorias mayores de 5 micras (gotas de Flügge), que no permanecen suspendidas en el aire y que se depositan en las superficies a menos de 2 metros, por contacto de las secreciones infectadas directamente con las mucosas (oral, nasal, conjuntiva) o indirectamente (a través de las manos contaminadas). No se excluye la trasmisión por aerosoles, partículas de diámetro menor de 5 micras, generadas por la tos y por procedimientos invasivos, como la toma de muestras, intubación o broncoscopia, y durante las maniobras para las pruebas de función pulmonar (PFP), razón por la cual, estas representan un alto riesgo de contagio en los laboratorios de función pulmonar. Ante este escenario se deben optar por medidas preventivas, para lo cual es necesario hacer las mejores recomendaciones, que eviten el contagio durante las pruebas, adoptando precauciones de seguridad adicionales a las ya existentes, durante y después de su realización, que inevitablemente conducirán a tiempos más largos de espera y mayor duración de las pruebas, incremento en la utilización de insumos desechables, menor flujo de pacientes y aumento de los costos. Para la reactivación de los laboratorios de función pulmonar se deben tener en cuenta la etapa de la pandemia, la urgencia del procedimiento, según el estado clínico y diagnóstico del paciente, y el tipo de prueba (Tabla 1 y 2).

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with decreased exercise tolerance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, but in the altitude the response to exercise in those patients is unknown. Our objective was to compare exercise capacity, gas exchange and ventilatory alterations between COPD patients with PH (COPD-PH) and without PH (COPD-nonPH) residents at high altitude (2640 m). Methods: One hundred thirty-two COPD-nonPH, 82 COPD-PH, and 47 controls were included. Dyspnea by Borg scale, oxygen consumption (VO2), work rate (WR), ventilatory equivalents (VE/VCO2), dead space to tidal volume ratio (VD/VT), alveolar-arterial oxygen tension gradient (AaPO2), and arterial-end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure gradient (Pa-ETCO2) were measurement during a cardiopulmonary exercise test. For comparison of variables between groups, Kruskal-Wallis or one-way ANOVA tests were used, and stepwise regression analysis to test the association between PH and exercise capacity. Results: All COPD patients had a lower exercise capacity and higher PaCO2, A-aPO2 and VD/VT than controls. The VO2 % predicted (61.3 ± 20.6 vs 75.3 ± 17.9; p < 0.001) and WR % predicted (65.3 ± 17.9 vs 75.3 ± 17.9; p < 0.001) were lower in COPD-PH than in COPD-nonPH. At peak exercise, dyspnea was higher in COPD-PH ( p = 0.011). During exercise, in COPD-PH, the PaO2 was lower ( p < 0.001), and AaPO2 ( p < 0.001), Pa-ETCO2 ( p = 0.033), VE/VCO2 ( p = 0.019), and VD/VT ( p = 0.007) were higher than in COPD-nonPH. In the multivariate analysis, PH was significantly associated with lower peak VO2 and WR ( p < 0.001). Conclusion: In COPD patients residing at high altitude, the presence of PH was an independent factor related to the exercise capacity. Also, in COPD-PH patients there were more dyspnea and alterations in gas exchange during the exercise than in those without PH.

Introduction Impulse oscillometry (IOS) is used to measure airway impedance. It is an effective tool for diagnosing and treating respiratory diseases, and it has the advantage that it does not require forced respiratory maneuvers. IOS reference values are required for each population group. Objective This study aimed to determine the IOS reference values and bronchodilator response in healthy preschool children living in Bogota, Colombia. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study in preschool children who had no history of respiratory disease; 96 children fit the parameters for testing to determine normal values according to the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society criteria. Results Values for respiratory resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs) at 5, 10, and 20 Hz, respiratory impedance (Zrs, and resonance frequency (Fres) were established. Height was the most influential independent variable for IOS values; an increase in height led to a reduction in Rrs5 and Rrs20 and an increase in Xrs5. After the administration of 400 mcg of salbutamol the values for Rrs5(-17.48%), Rrs20(-8.63%), Fres (-10.68%), and area of reactance (-35.44%) were reduced, meanwhile Xrs5 (15.35%) was increased. Conclusions Normal IOS values before and after the administration of 400 mcg of salbutamol were determined for a population of children aged 3-5 years at 2,640 m. Reference IOS equations for these children are presented. A relative change of up to -28% and 36% after the use of salbutamol for respiratory resistance and reactance, respectively, should be considered as an upper limit of the normal range, and possible appropriate cut-off values for defining significant response for evaluating therapeutic interventions.

Exactitud diagnóstica de la oscilometría de impulso en niños preescolares con asma

Introduction Impulse oscillometry (IOS) is used to measure airway impedance. It is an effective tool for diagnosing and treating respiratory diseases, and it has the advantage that it does not require forced respiratory maneuvers. IOS reference values are required for each population group. Objective This study aimed to determine the IOS reference values and bronchodilator response in healthy preschool children living in Bogotá, Colombia. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study in preschool children who had no history of respiratory disease; 96 children fit the parameters for testing to determine normal values according to the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society criteria. Results Values for respiratory resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs) at 5, 10, and 20 Hz, respiratory impedance (Zrs, and resonance frequency (Fres) were established. Height was the most influential independent variable for IOS values; an increase in height led to a reduction in Rrs5 and Rrs20 and an increase in Xrs5. After the administration of 400 mcg of salbutamol the values for Rrs5(−17.48%), Rrs20(−8.63%), Fres (−10.68%), and area of reactance (−35.44%) were reduced, meanwhile Xrs5 (15.35%) was increased. Conclusions Normal IOS values before and after the administration of 400 mcg of salbutamol were determined for a population of children aged 3–5 years at 2,640 m. Reference IOS equations for these children are presented. A relative change of up to −28% and 36% after the use of salbutamol for respiratory resistance and reactance, respectively, should be considered as an upper limit of the normal range, and possible appropriate cut-off values for defining significant response for evaluating therapeutic interventions.