Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is an imaging technique based on electrical currents and an image reconstruction algorithm. It has been proven useful for various medical procedures, including lung imaging and tumor detection. This technology is also used in the real-time monitoring of certain medical conditions. Its clinical applications are varied and include lung pathology, tumor detection, and real-time monitoring. Its unique features make it an excellent choice for special medical occasions, such as detecting lung cancer early.
Lung imaging
Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is a noninvasive technique that measures the impedance of the lung tissue. It measures the electrical current flowing through the chest and records the differences in impedance within individual lung areas. There are two types of EIT devices available: a mobile device and an integrated system.
Both forms are used to evaluate lung function and are useful for lung imaging. The technique also allows physicians to evaluate the effectiveness of lung recruitment maneuvers. Increased lung impedance suggests effective alveolar recruitment. A decrease in lung impedance indicates overdistension of alveoli, which is a risk factor for ventilator-induced lung injury.
Clinical application
Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a medical imaging procedure used to measure regional ventilation distribution. Its waveforms represent the sum of impedance changes in regions of interest (ROI). These images are used to monitor lung diseases and assist with treatment. This technique provides a comprehensive picture of lung ventilation in a patient.
Although electrical impedance tomography is not a new technology, its clinical application is relatively unexplored. However, since it became commercially available, global research into this technology has increased dramatically. It is now beginning to be used for routine clinical bedside monitoring in some regions of the world. This article provides an overview of this technology and discusses the most common applications.
Comparison with conventional pulmonary function tests
The comparative performance of pulmonary function testing using EIT and conventional spirometry has been investigated. A comparison was made between the two methods using 10 healthy children with asymptomatic asthma, and 10 children with a history of asthma. The EIT images were acquired at a rate of 33 scans per second and the regional forced vital capacity, FEV1/FVC ratio, and tidal volume were determined. CV and coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated from all the pixel values and statistical analysis was conducted using paired and unpaired t-tests.
The GI index, calculated by calculating the differential impedance of each pixel, represents the amount of air that each lung area contains. A high GI index indicates heterogeneous ventilation. However, it is important to note that this index requires the identification of the lung area correctly. Incorrect identification of the lung area results in omitting areas that are poorly ventilated and decreases the ability to detect true heterogeneity.