Tidal breathing FeNO measurements: a new algorithm

Objective: International guidelines recommend measuring fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) during a single slow exhalation with a constant flow of 50 ml/sec. We developed a new algorithm to compute FeNO at 50 ml/sec from tidal breathing measurements. The main objective is to assess the correlation and agreement of this algorithm with the conventional single breath FeNO measurements.

Methods: We recruited children aged 6-18 years, who performed both a single breath and a tidal breathing FeNO measurement in random order. Both maneuvers were performed on the Eco Medics NO-analyser (Eco Physics AG, Duernten, Switzerland).

Results: We included 109 patients between January 2011 and April 2011. Geometric mean (95% CI) FeNO values did not differ significantly between single breath and tidal breathing technique: 21.0 (17.7-24.8) ppb and 20.0 (17.0-23.6) ppb (P = 0.18), respectively. We found an excellent intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.96 (0.94-0.97) and moderate agreement with a mean difference of 4% (95% limits of agreement -43% and +90%).

Conclusion: Tidal breathing FeNO values could be transformed with a new algorithm to match single breath FeNO at a constant flow of 50 ml/sec. This algorithm opens the way to standardized FeNO measurements in preschool children and uncooperative patients.