Clinical Trial: Power Spectral Analysis of Breath Sound in Pulmonary Edema

Study Status: Recruiting
Recruit Status: Unknown status
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: Power Spectral Analysis of Lung Sounds Detected at Bilateral Lung Bases in Patients With Cardiogenic and Non-cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema

Brief Summary:

Pulmonary edema can be classified into "cardiogenic pulmonary edema" and "non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema" according to the underlying etiology. Cardiogenic pulmonary edema is caused by the dysfunction in the cardiac pumping capability, leading to the transudation accumulation in the pulmonary peri-capillary space. The predisposing factors of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema are numerous, including severe infection, renal failure, auto-immun reaction, etc. The mortality rate of pulmonary edema is relatively high, especially the non-cardiogenic one. To distinguish the type of pulmonary edema at the early stage is important for its treatment.

Lung sound analysis via stethoscope is a simple diagnostic method to lung diseases clinically. Among many kinds of lung sounds, the "crackle" and "rale" are frequently found in pulmonary edema. "Rale" is also called "moist rale". It is considered as low-frequency wheezes and is often seen in cardiogenic pulmonary edema. On the other hand, "crackle" is also called "dry rale", which is a kind of high-frequency wheezes and usually seen in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) that is classified into non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

This proposed project intends to establish a digital diagnostic method for pulmonary edema. The lung sound of patient with pulmonary edema will be collected by the lung sound acquisition system. By identifying the significant spectrum characteristics of cardiogenic pulmonary edema and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, the diagnostic system might be established.

Detailed Summary:

Pulmonary edema is caused by the disorder of liquid accumulation between lung capillary and peri-capillary tissue. This lung disease can be classified into "Cardiogenic pulmonary edema" and "Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema" according to the underlying etiology. Cardiogenic pulmonary edema is caused by the dysfunction in the cardiac pumping capability, leading to the transudation accumulation in the pulmonary peri-capillary space. Pulmonary ventilation and perfusion mismatch developed and shortness of breath ensued. The predisposing factors of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema are numerous, including severe infection, renal failure, auto-immun reaction, etc. The mortality rate of pulmonary edema is relatively high, especially the non-cardiogenic one. To distinguish the type of pulmonary edema at the early stage is important for its treatment.

Stethoscopes are widely used in clinical diagnosis in different diseases. Lung sound analysis via stethoscope is a simple diagnostic method to lung diseases clinically. Among many kinds of lung sounds, the "crackle" and "rale" are frequently found in pulmonary edema. "Rale" is also called "moist rale". It is considered as low-frequency wheezes and is often seen in cardiogenic pulmonary edema. On the other hand, "crackle" is also called "dry rale", which is a kind of high-frequency wheezes and usually seen in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) that is classified into non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

By simply listening to the lung sounds, a doctor can determine whether the patient has pulmonary edema or not, and whether the pulmonary edema if present is cardiogenic or not. This listening diagnostic method is simple and non-invasive. However, its accuracy is limited by such factors as the doctor's subje
Sponsor: Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan

Current Primary Outcome:

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Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan

Dates:
Date Received: October 2, 2008
Date Started: July 2008
Date Completion: December 2009
Last Updated: June 6, 2010
Last Verified: June 2010