Measurement of tracheal and bronchial mucus velocities in man: relation to lung clearance

Abstract

utilizing the inhalation and deposition of radioactive particles followed by gamma-camera imaging were applied to the prob-lem of differentiating mucociliary function at various genera-tions of the tracheobronchial tree in man. Quantitative values for linear velocities of mucus movement in the trachea and large bronchi could be compared with whole or peripheral (small bronchi) lung clearance rates. Mucus velocity in main bronchi averaged 2.4 mm/min and correlated (r = 0.81) with tracheal mucus velocity, which averaged 5.5 mm/min. Subjects removed an average of 68 % of their total deposition during the initial 24 h after inhalation; particles cleared the ciliated airways at a mean rate of U.Sl%/min. P-Adrenergic (P-AD) aerosols enhanced mucociliary function by increasing both central air-way mucus transport (bronchial and tracheal velocities were raised 156 and 37%, respectively) and peripheral lung clearance