OBJECTIVETo study the value of clinical application and distribution character of regional pulmonary ventilation of patients with various type of pneumoconiosis.

METHODS132 patients with various type of pneumoconiosis were observed by electric impedance pneumograph(EIPV) and routine lung function test. The results were compared with the measured value of 100 healthy cases.

RESULTSThe regional pulmonary ventilation of the three kinds of pneumoconiosis(founder's pneumoconiosis, silicosis and asbestosis) was increased in both side of upper pulmonary region and decreased in both of lower pulmonary region. The ventilation distribution showed that the right pulmonary ventilation increased predominantly, accounted for 53.03% (70/132) of total lung ventilation. There was significant difference(P < 0.01) compared with the normal healthy men's EIPV, but no difference(P > 0.05) among various type of pneumoconiosis. There was also no difference(P > 0.05) between pneumoconiosis patients with normal ventilation function and various type of ventilation obstacle of pneumoconiosis. One silicosis patient complicated by atelectasis of the left upper lobe, another silicosis patient complicated by lung cancer and their EIPV accorded with their chest X-rays.

CONCLUSIONEIPV could not be measured by routine lung function test. It may be the supplement to latter parameter and as a substitute for radio imaging of pulmonary ventilation in pneumoconiosis complicated by other regional pulmonary disorder.