The new method of monitoring lung func-tion (“vibration response imaging”- VRI) converts vibration energy that appears in the bronchial tree during airflow into an image. The VRI does not use energy that could have a detrimental effect on the cells and organs. The goal of our research was to verify the VRI device in the diagnosis and the localization of various lung patholo-gies. In our medical-surgical ICU we did a retrospective analysis of the prospective database that included 61 patients. We compare VRI with chest X-ray and CT scan in patients with intrathoracic (the presence of air and fluid in the intrapleural space, pulmonary hypoventilation, atelec-tasis, contusion and inflammatory lung pathology) or extrathoracic pathology that affect respiratory function.
Intrathoracic pathology was observed in 32 patients and extrathoracic pathology in 29 patients. The use of the VRI device showed earlier disorder of hypoventilation compared to chest X-ray, especially after abdominal surgical procedures, intraab-dominal hypertension and various lung pathology as it detected laterobasal pneu-mothorax earlier.
In our patients VRI has been proven to be a reliable method for detecting regional distribution of ventilation and atelectasis of the lungs of individual parts regardless of pulmonary pathology. VRI is shown as a reliable method for detecting air and fluid in the intrapleural space.