August is “Lung Month,” a perfect time to shine a spotlight on how healthy lungs support every system in the body and how modern, non-invasive therapies can help when they don’t. Restoring FRC with NPV offers a physiological approach to supporting patients when lung function is compromised.
What is Functional Residual Capacity (FRC)?
One essential concept in respiratory health is Functional Residual Capacity (FRC). FRC refers to the volume of air left in your lungs after a normal exhale. It might sound simple, but this air plays a huge role in keeping your body balanced. It helps prevent the alveoli (tiny air sacks) from collapsing and allows for continuous gas exchange, even between breaths. A normal FRC improves oxygen delivery to tissues and reduces strain on your heart, kidneys, and brain.
Restoring FRC with NPV: Why It Matters
When FRC is reduced because of lung disease, poor posture, or certain ventilatory practices, every organ system can suffer. The heart has to pump harder, carbon dioxide builds up in the blood, and the body struggles to maintain its delicate balance. Restoring FRC with NPV is essential for reducing multi-organ strain and preserving natural gas exchange.
How Restoring NPV Supports FRC
That’s where negative pressure ventilation (NPV) comes in. Unlike the more common positive pressure ventilation, which pushes air into the lungs, NPV works by gently pulling air in from outside the body, similar to how we naturally breathe. Devices like the Biphasic Cuirass Ventilation (BCV) are worn externally and mimics the rise and fall of the chest wall, helping restore a natural breathing pattern and normal FRC without the need for intubation or facial masks.
Clinical Outcomes of Restoring FRC with NPV
A 2020 study by Nunez et al. found that negative pressure ventilation supported nearly 69% of pediatric acute respiratory failure cases without needing to escalate to invasive ventilation. Additionally, research by Grasso et al. (2008) demonstrated that external negative pressure ventilation in adult ARDS patients significantly improved oxygenation at lower airway pressures, which is closer to natural physiology. This evidence reinforces the value of restoring FRC with NPV in both pediatric and adult populations.
Restoring Balance During Lung Month
As we observe Lung Month, it’s worth remembering that healthy breathing supports the whole body. Supporting normal FRC with gentle, non-invasive technologies helps restore not just breathing but balance.
References
Nunez CA et al. (2020). Predictors of Negative Pressure Ventilation Response in Pediatric Acute Respiratory Failure. Respiratory Care, 65(1), 91–98.
Grasso F et al. (2008). Negative-pressure ventilation: better oxygenation and less lung injury. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 177(4), 412–418.
