Expiratory Flow Limitation Definition, Mechanisms, Methods, and Significance

When expiratory flow is maximal during tidal breathing and cannot be increased unless operative lung volumes move towards total lung capacity, tidal expiratory flow limitation (EFL) is said to occur. EFL represents a severe mechanical constraint caused by different mechanisms and observed in differe...

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Main Author: Claudio Tantucci
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2013-01-01
Series:Pulmonary Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/749860
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author Claudio Tantucci
author_facet Claudio Tantucci
author_sort Claudio Tantucci
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description When expiratory flow is maximal during tidal breathing and cannot be increased unless operative lung volumes move towards total lung capacity, tidal expiratory flow limitation (EFL) is said to occur. EFL represents a severe mechanical constraint caused by different mechanisms and observed in different conditions, but it is more relevant in terms of prevalence and negative consequences in obstructive lung diseases and particularly in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although in COPD patients EFL more commonly develops during exercise, in more advanced disorder it can be present at rest, before in supine position, and then in seated-sitting position. In any circumstances EFL predisposes to pulmonary dynamic hyperinflation and its unfavorable effects such as increased elastic work of breathing, inspiratory muscles dysfunction, and progressive neuroventilatory dissociation, leading to reduced exercise tolerance, marked breathlessness during effort, and severe chronic dyspnea.
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spelling doaj-art-7a96ff9fb2814b6a826001b273427a1f2025-02-03T05:43:39ZengWileyPulmonary Medicine2090-18362090-18442013-01-01201310.1155/2013/749860749860Expiratory Flow Limitation Definition, Mechanisms, Methods, and SignificanceClaudio Tantucci0Department of Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Brescia, 1a Medicina, Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, ItalyWhen expiratory flow is maximal during tidal breathing and cannot be increased unless operative lung volumes move towards total lung capacity, tidal expiratory flow limitation (EFL) is said to occur. EFL represents a severe mechanical constraint caused by different mechanisms and observed in different conditions, but it is more relevant in terms of prevalence and negative consequences in obstructive lung diseases and particularly in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although in COPD patients EFL more commonly develops during exercise, in more advanced disorder it can be present at rest, before in supine position, and then in seated-sitting position. In any circumstances EFL predisposes to pulmonary dynamic hyperinflation and its unfavorable effects such as increased elastic work of breathing, inspiratory muscles dysfunction, and progressive neuroventilatory dissociation, leading to reduced exercise tolerance, marked breathlessness during effort, and severe chronic dyspnea.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/749860
spellingShingle Claudio Tantucci
Expiratory Flow Limitation Definition, Mechanisms, Methods, and Significance
Pulmonary Medicine
title Expiratory Flow Limitation Definition, Mechanisms, Methods, and Significance
title_full Expiratory Flow Limitation Definition, Mechanisms, Methods, and Significance
title_fullStr Expiratory Flow Limitation Definition, Mechanisms, Methods, and Significance
title_full_unstemmed Expiratory Flow Limitation Definition, Mechanisms, Methods, and Significance
title_short Expiratory Flow Limitation Definition, Mechanisms, Methods, and Significance
title_sort expiratory flow limitation definition mechanisms methods and significance
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/749860
work_keys_str_mv AT claudiotantucci expiratoryflowlimitationdefinitionmechanismsmethodsandsignificance