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To evaluate respiratory muscle strength in healthy Korean children in order to establish the criteria for normal reference values for future applications. In contrast with the other parameters for testing pulmonary function, normal values for respiratory muscle strength in healthy Korean children have not been assessed to date.
We conducted a complete survey of 263 students at Sinmyung Elementary School in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, and measured their height and body weight, performed pulmonary function tests, and evaluated maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) as measures of respiratory muscle strength. We excluded the subjects with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases that could affect the results. The subjects were children aged 8–12 years, and they consisted of 124 boys and 139 girls.
The MIP and MEP values (mean±standard deviation) for the entire subject group were 48.46±18.1 cmH2O and 47.95±16 cmH2O, respectively. Boys showed higher mean values for MIP and MEP in every age group. Korean children showed lower mean values for MIP and MEP compared to those in previous studies conducted in other countries (Brazil and USA).
Our results showed that boys generally have greater respiratory muscle strength than girls. We found a significant difference between the results of our study and those of previous studies from other countries. We speculate that this may be attributed to differences in ethnicity, nutrition, or daily activities.
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To compare the urodynamic study variables at the onset of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) between the overactive and underactive bladders in patients with spinal cord injury who presented with VUR.
A total of 28 (13 cases of detrusor overactivity and 15 detrusor underactivity) men were enrolled. We compared the urodynamic variables between the two groups; detrusor pressure and bladder compliance, the infused volume at the onset of VUR measured on a voiding cystourethrography and cystometric capacity, maximum detrusor pressure, and bladder compliance during filling cystometry were recorded.
At the onset of VUR, the bladder volume and compliance, except for the detrusor pressure, showed a significant difference between the two groups. The detrusor pressure, bladder volume, and bladder compliance relative to the cystometric capacity showed a significant difference between the two groups. The detrusor pressure, bladder volume, and bladder compliance at the onset of VUR relative to the cystometric bladder capacity did not show any significant difference between the two groups.
There were differences in some variables at the onset of VUR depending on the type of neurogenic bladder. The VUR occurred at a lower capacity in neurogenic bladder with detrusor overactivity than in neurogenic bladder with detrusor underactivity at the same pressure. VUR occurred at a lower intravesical pressure compared to that known as the critical detrusor pressure (≥40 cm H2O) required for the development of VUR. The results of our study demonstrate that the detrusor pressure should be maintained lower than the well known effective critical detrusor pressure for the prevention and treatment of VUR.
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