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Peer-reviewedCC BYPulmonology

Ventilation inhomogeneity in Duchenne muscular dystrophy before the initiation of ventilatory support: Insights from electrical impedance tomography

  • Andrea Vianello1
  • Federico Lionello1
  • Michele Ciresi1
  • Michela Pozza1
  • Luca Bello2
  • Gabriella Guarnieri1
  1. 1Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
  2. 2Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Abstract

Background Prior to the onset of overt ventilatory failure, patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) can display non-uniform respiratory mechanics, resulting from atelectasis in small lung regions secondary to rapid, shallow breathing and/or peripheral airway obstruction, thereby predisposing to the development of ventilation inhomogeneity.Objectives To investigate ventilation distribution in DMD patients before the initiation of long-term assisted ventilation by using electrical impedance tomography (EIT).Methods Patients and interventions: Eighteen DMD patients underwent EIT between 1 January and 31 December 2025. Primary study endpoint: Global Inhomogeneity Index (GI). EIT data were compared with those obtained from a group of 11 healthy, similarly aged male medical residents.Results GI was significantly higher in the DMD patients with respect to healthy males [0.44 ± 0.13 (0.36–0.77) vs 0.37 ± 0.03 (0.32–0.43); p < 0.001]. A GI of 0.5 maximised the distinction between DMD patients with a ventilation distribution pattern similar to or different from the healthy subjects.Conclusions Before initiation of assisted ventilation, a subset of DMD patients may develop lung ventilation inhomogeneity, which can be readily assessed by means of EIT. Whether such inhomogeneity is predictive of major clinical events therefore constitutes a critical question to be addressed.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{vianello2026ventilation,
  title = {{Ventilation inhomogeneity in Duchenne muscular dystrophy before the initiation of ventilatory support: Insights from electrical impedance tomography}},
  author = {Andrea Vianello and Federico Lionello and Michele Ciresi and Michela Pozza and Luca Bello and Gabriella Guarnieri},
  journal = {Pulmonology},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1080/25310429.2026.2753313},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/25310429.2026.2753313},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Ventilation inhomogeneity in Duchenne muscular dystrophy before the initiation of ventilatory support: Insights from electrical impedance tomography
AU  - Andrea Vianello
AU  - Federico Lionello
AU  - Michele Ciresi
AU  - Michela Pozza
AU  - Luca Bello
AU  - Gabriella Guarnieri
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/30
JO  - Pulmonology
DO  - 10.1080/25310429.2026.2753313
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1080/25310429.2026.2753313
AB  - Background Prior to the onset of overt ventilatory failure, patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) can display non-uniform respiratory mechanics, resulting from atelectasis in small lung regions secondary to rapid, shallow breathing and/or peripheral airway obstruction, thereby predisposing to the development of ventilation inhomogeneity.Objectives To investigate ventilation distribution in DMD patients before the initiation of long-term assisted ventilation by using electrical impedance tomography (EIT).Methods Patients and interventions: Eighteen DMD patients underwent EIT between 1 January and 31 December 2025. Primary study endpoint: Global Inhomogeneity Index (GI). EIT data were compared with those obtained from a group of 11 healthy, similarly aged male medical residents.Results GI was significantly higher in the DMD patients with respect to healthy males [0.44 ± 0.13 (0.36–0.77) vs 0.37 ± 0.03 (0.32–0.43); p < 0.001]. A GI of 0.5 maximised the distinction between DMD patients with a ventilation distribution pattern similar to or different from the healthy subjects.Conclusions Before initiation of assisted ventilation, a subset of DMD patients may develop lung ventilation inhomogeneity, which can be readily assessed by means of EIT. Whether such inhomogeneity is predictive of major clinical events therefore constitutes a critical question to be addressed.
SN  - 2531-0437
SN  - 2531-0429
ER  -