Skip to main content
Fig. 3 | BMC Pulmonary Medicine

Fig. 3

From: Electrical impedance tomography in pediatric patients with COVID-19, the first reports

Fig. 3

The figure shows chest radiograph images and EIT images of patient 4, a four years-old girl, in 3 different decubitus: dorsal, right lateral and left lateral. The patient was using NIV, through a face mask, with an inspiratory pressure of 20 cmH2O and a positive end-expiratory pressure of 8 cmH2O. The radiograph image A4 show clamping of costal arches and elevation of the left diaphragmatic dome suggestive of atelectasis. The EIT, other three panels, shows the distribution of ventilation according to the patient's position. The color scale of the EIT corresponds to the tidal volume variation present at the different ROIs; dark blue corresponds to a lower ventilation variation, and white corresponds to high tidal volumes. In the supine position (B4), a decrease in ventilation on the left lung is observed, compatible with the radiological image. When the right decubitus position was adopted, a ventilation increase in the dependent right lung was observed, consistent with the physiological response. When the left lung was in the dependent position, left lateral decubitus, almost no ventilation in this lung was detected (4%). Most likely, the action of gravity leads to the dynamic closure of small airways, limiting the flow, and preventing ventilation

Back to article page