Lungs in infants and young children: Improved thin-section CT with a noninvasive controlled-ventilation technique - Initial experience

Three sedated young children underwent thin-section computed tomography (CT ) of the chest while breathing and during controlled respiratory pauses ind uced by means of a step increase in positive-pressure ventilation applied v ia a face mask. Motion-free inspiratory and expiratory thin-section CT imag es were successfully acquired during 8-12-second respiratory pauses. This s imple, reproducible technique produced thin-section CT images that were cle arer and more clinically useful than those obtained ruing quiet tidal breat hing.