Electrical impedance tomographic spectroscopy in the detection of increased lung water in heart failure

Abstract

Our aim was to ascertain whether the Sheffield Mk.3a electrical impedance tomographic spectroscopy (EITS) system was able to reliably detect the presence of lung water. The patients studied were admitted with a diagnosis of left ventricular failure (LVF), a condition in which the quantity of lung water is significantly increased. This group was compared with a number of normal subjects. We were able to show that the conductance of the lung in patients with LVF was significantly higher than the normal group. This method may therefore have a role in the monitoring and diagnosis of left ventricular failure.