DETERMINATION OF AIRWAY RESISTANCE USING AIRFLOW DISTRIBUTION.

The authors examined the possibility of calculating airflow resistance using airflow data only. This has led to the following conclusions: (1) unique values for resistance cannot be calculated using only a single set of airflow data, and (2) unique resistances can be calculated by using two or three sets of airflow data that have been measured under different conditions of ventilation. Two different methods are shown for calculating airway resistances. One uses the principle of the node potential method and the other uses the mesh method principle. If the airflow data are correct, both methods give correct values of resistance.