Abstract
Mist tent therapy is widely used in the treatment of cystic fibrosis to increase deposition of fluid in the lower airways of the lung. To measure the time course and extent of this fluid uptake we have introduced a solution of radioactive 99mTc into the fluid reservoir of an ultrasonic nebulizer. Subjects breathed in the mist tent for periods up to 5 h following which the distribution of inhaled radioactivity was measured with a whole body counter and a rectilineare scanner. The results show that less than 5% of the radioactive aerosol entering the tent is inhaled by the subject. Of the inhaled aerosol 90% is initially trapped by the nasopharynx and later much of this radioactivity appears in the stomach. It is difficult to detect radioactivity in the lung. Similar results have been obtained in ten subjects using three different ultrasonic nebulizers. This work indicates that very little fluid from a mist tent reaches the terminal airways of the lung. (Supported by Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.)
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Aspin, N., Bau, S., Levison, H. et al. The Distribution of Fluid Intake from Mist Tent Therapy. Pediatr Res 4, 478 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197009000-00173
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197009000-00173