Correlación entre el espectro de sonidos traqueales y la espirometría en un adulto con obstrucción de la vía aérea superior: Caso clínico

Abstract

Tracheal sounds analysis has demonstrated to be useful in the evaluation of anatomical anomalies of the upper airways, with the advantage that is a non invasive method and that it doesn't require patient cooperation. We present a 52 year-old patient, non smoker, with a hypophysis tumor and long term acromegalia. He presented with an inspiratory stridor and severe dyspnea. The radiological study revealed a intrathoracic mass that compressed significantly the trachea. Spirometry demonstrated a fixed extrathoracic obstruction. Tracheal sounds were recorded using a contact sensor (Siemmens EMT25C) at the supraesternal notch, reaching flows of 0.15 to 0.25 l/s. Surgical mass resection demonstrated a thyroid folicular nodular hyperplasia. Patient presented recovery of his dyspnea, with normal x-ray and spirometry. A new recording of tracheal sounds demonstrated a significant decrease in intensity at the same frequency (p < 0.001) and a displacement of the curve toward smaller frequencies (p < 0.001). A significant correlation was found betwen the increase in the spirometric values and the decrease in the spectrum of intensity (r = 0.88, p < 0.01). The study of this patient is consistent with other publications which have demonstrated that tracheal sounds analysis is a non invasive method, useful in the evaluation of upper airway anomalies.