Introdução: A tomografia de impedância elétrica (TIE) é uma técnica de imagem não invasiva que mensura o potencial elétrico na superfície torácica através de eletrodos colocados ao redor do tórax. Essas medidas são transformadas em uma imagem bidimensional da distribuição da impedância elétrica no tórax. Esse instrumento detecta modificações da densidade pulmonar e distribuição do volume corrente. Entretanto, é necessário melhor avaliação da sua eficiência em estimar o volume corrente (VT) a cada ciclo ventilatório. O objetivo do estudo é avaliar a correlação do volume estimado pela TIE com o VT aplicado durante o suporte ventilatório mecânico. Métodos: Inicialmente, foram estudados cinco suínos da raça Landrace. Os animais foram sedados, intubados e monitorados com a TIE. Foram aplicados volumes incrementais (100, 250, 500, 750 e 1000 mL) com a seringa de precisão em ZEEP e com PEEP de 5, 10 e 20 cmH2O, antes e depois da promoção de lesão pulmonar com lavagem com solução salina. Posteriormente, outros cinco animais foram monitorados com a tomografia computadorizada de tórax por raios X (TC) e a TIE. Foram aplicados volumes incrementais (250, 500 e 1000 mL) com a seringa de precisão em ZEEP e com PEEP de 10 e 20 cmH2O, também antes e depois da promoção de lesão pulmonar. A amplitude da variação de impedância mensurada pela TIE foi convertida em volume e foi calculado o volume de ar na TC. Análises de correlação e concordância foram realizadas com o programa \"R\" (© R Foundation for Statistical Computing). Resultados: Em ZEEP, o coeficiente de correlação entre os volumes estimado pela TIE e calculado pela TC foram, respectivamente, 0,90 e 0,96 na comparação com a seringa de precisão. O coeficiente de determinação entre a TIE e a seringa de precisão foi progressivamente reduzindo (0,90; 0,89 e 0,81 com PEEP de 5; 10 e 20, respectivamente) com o aumento do volume pulmonar promovido pela elevação da PEEP. A TC mostrou um deslocamento progressivo do conteúdo aéreo no sentido caudal com o aumento do volume pulmonar. Conclusões: Há uma boa correlação entre o volume estimado pela TIE e o VT aplicado durante o suporte ventilatório mecânico quando utilizados volumes e pressões usuais na prática clínica / Rationale: Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a noninvasive imaging tool that reconstructs a cross-sectional image of the lung\'s regional conductivity using electrodes placed circumferentially around the thorax. It is able to detect changes of lung air content and tidal volume (VT) distribution. However, better evaluation of its capacity to quantify VT variations is necessary. The aim of our study was to assess the correlation between volume estimated by EIT and tidal volume applied at different positive end-expiratory pressures (PEEP). Methods: Initially, in an experimental study five mechanically ventilated pigs monitored by EIT were studied. VT increments (100, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 mL) were applied with a calibrated syringe at zero end-expiratory pressure (ZEEP) and PEEP levels of 5, 10 and 20 cmH2O before and after lung-injury (induced by saline lavage). Another five pigs was monitored by EIT and x-ray computed tomography (CT). VT increments (250, 500 and 1000 mL) were applied with a calibrated syringe at zero end-expiratory pressure (ZEEP) and PEEP levels of 10 and 20 cmH2O before and after lung-injury. Lung air volume was calculated at CT scan and the amplitude of impedance change measured by EIT was converted to volume (mL). Correlation and agreement analysis was performed at \"R\" program (© R Foundation for Statistical Computing). Results: At ZEEP, volume estimated by EIT and volume calculated at CT obtained r2 = 0.90 and 0.96 respectively, when compared to calibrated syringe. The coefficient of correlation between EIT and calibrated syringe impaired (0.90; 0.89 and 0.81 with PEEP of 5; 10 and 20, respectively) with increase of the lung volume due to increased PEEP. CT showed a progressive displacement of the air content to the caudal thoracic levels with the increase of the lung volume. Conclusion: EIT is able to estimate tidal volume during mechanical ventilatory support when used volumes and pressures usually applied at bedside

INTRODUÇÃO: Ventilação assistida proporcional plus é um novo conceito de suporte ventilatório assistido que visa atuar de acordo com os níveis de esforço inspiratório, mecânica respiratória e níveis de porcentagem de apoio. A complexa interação entre esses fatores que comandam a sua função é de difícil interpretação na prática clínica. O objetivo deste estudo é provocar alterações na complacência, resistência e esforços inspiratórios, em um sistema pulmonar mecânico, para entender o funcionamento e as respostas desse modo nas suas diferentes porcentagens de apoio. MÉTODOS: No Laboratório de Ventilação Mecânica da Disciplina de Pneumologia da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, um ventilador Interplus da marca Intermed foi conectado em um pulmão mecânico da marca Michigan Instruments Inc, com a finalidade de gerar diferentes níveis de esforços inspiratórios e para disparar o ventilador Puritan-Bennett 840 da marca Covidien. Os volumes correntes expirados foram medidos e posteriormente comparados através do método estatístico ANOVA two-way, para 10 níveis de porcentagem de apoio (de 5% a 95%), 3 níveis de complacência (50, 100 e 150 mL/cmH2O), 3 níveis de resistência (5, 20 e 50 cmH2O/L/s) e 4 níveis de esforço inspiratório (-2, -5, -8 e -15 cmH2O). RESULTADOS: Trezentas e sessenta medidas de volume corrente expirado foram obtidas. Os volumes correntes expirados aumentaram significativamente com o incremento dos esforços inspiratórios, durante altos esforços inspiratórios e altas complacências. Diminuíram significativamente durante o incremento das resistências, especialmente quando combinado com baixos esforços inspiratórios e baixas complacências. O fenômeno de sobreassistência (runaway) ocorreu com porcentagem de apoio de 95% combinada com alta resistência e alta complacência. CONCLUSÃO: O modo ventilação assistida proporcional plus respondeu adequadamente às alterações provocadas nas complacências e nos esforços inspiratórios testados. Respondeu à situações de resistência extremamente alta somente quando associado com altos esforços inspiratórios. Não houve fenômeno de sobreassistência em porcentagens de apoio menores que 95%. / BACKGROUND: Proportional assist ventilation plus (PAV+) is a new concept of assist ventilatory support conceived to act according to the levels of inspiratory efforts, respiratory mechanics and percentages levels of assistance. This complex interaction among the factors commanding its function is difficult to detect in clinical setting. This study aimed to provoke changes in compliance, resistance and inspiratory efforts in a lung simulator to understand the responses of PAV+ support. METHODS: In the Mechanical Ventilation Laboratory at University of São Paulo, an Inter Plus ventilator (Intermed ®) connected to lung simulator (Michigan Instruments Inc) acted triggering Puritan-Bennett 840 ventilator (Covidien ®) at different levels of inspiratory efforts. Expiratory tidal volumes were measured and compared (ANOVA-2-way) at 10 levels of PAV+ support (from 5% to 95%), 3 levels of lung simulator compliance (50, 100, 150 mL/cmH20), 3 levels of airway resistance (5, 20, 50 cmH20/L/s) and 4 levels of inspiratory effort ( -2, -5, -8, -15 cmH20). RESULTS: A total of 360 tidal volumes were measured. They increased significantly during increment of inspiratory efforts and during higher inspiratory efforts with higher compliances. They decreased significantly during respiratory resistance increments, especially when combined with low inspiratory efforts and compliances. Runaway occurred during PAV+ support of 95% combined with high respiratory resistance and compliance. CONCLUSIONS: PAV+ responded adequately to provoked changes in the tested respiratory compliances and inspiratory efforts. It responded to very high resistance only when associated with high inspiratory efforts. There was no runaway phenomenon during PAV+ assistance below 95%.

With the rapid somatic growth and development in infants, simultaneous accurate measurements of lung volume and airway function are essential. Raised volume rapid thoracoabdominal compression (RTC) is widely used to generate forced expiration from an airway opening pressure of 30 cmH2O (V30). The (dynamic) functional residual capacity (FRCdyn) remains the lung volume most routinely measured. The aim of this study was to develop comprehensive integrated spirometry that included all subdivisions of lung volume at V30 or total lung capacity (TLC30). Measurements were performed on 17 healthy infants aged 8.6-119.7 weeks. A commercial system for multiple-breath nitrogen washout (MBNW) to measure lung volumes and a custom made system to perform RTC were used in unison. A refined automated raised volume RTC and the following two novel single maneuvers with dual volume measurements were performed from V30 during a brief post-hyperventilation apneic pause: (1) the passive expiratory flow was integrated to produce the inspiratory capacity (IC) and the static (passive) FRC (FRCst) was estimated by initiating MBNW after end-passive expiration; (2) RTC was initiated late during passive expiration, flow was integrated to produce the slow vital capacity (jSVC) and the residual volume (RV) was measured by initiating MBNW after end-expiration while the jacket (j) was inflated. Intrasubject FRCdyn and FRCst measurements overlapped (p = 0.6420) but neither did with the RV (p < 0.0001). Means (95% confidence interval) of FRCdyn, IC, FRCst, jSVC, RV, forced vital capacity and tidal volume were 21.2 (19.7-22.7), 36.7 (33.0-40.4), 21.2 (19.6-22.8), 40.7 (37.2-44.2), 18.1 (16.6-19.7), 40.7 (37.1-44.2) and 10.2 (9.6-10.7) ml/kg, respectively. Static lung volumes and capacities at V30 and variables from the best forced expiratory flow-volume curve were dependent on age, body length and weight. In conclusion, we developed a comprehensive physiologically integrated approach for in-depth investigation of lung function at V30 in infants.

Background: This work presents a generalized technique to estimate pulmonary ventilation-to-volume (v/V) distributions using the multiple-breath nitrogen washout, in which both tidal volume (VT) and the end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) are allowed to vary during the maneuver. In addition, the volume of the series dead space (vd), unlike the classical model, is considered a common series unit connected to a set of parallel alveolar units. Methods: The numerical solution for simulated data, either error-free or with the N2 measurement contaminated with the addition of Gaussian random noise of 3 or 5 % standard deviation was tested under several conditions in a computational model constituted by 50 alveolar units with unimodal and bimodal distributions of v/V. Non-negative least squares regression with Tikhonov regularization was employed for parameter retrieval. The solution was obtained with either unconstrained or constrained (VT, EELV and vd) conditions. The Tikhonov gain was fixed or estimated and a weighting matrix (WM) was considered. The quality of estimation was evaluated by the sum of the squared errors (SSE) (between reference and recovered distributions) and by the deviations of the first three moments calculated for both distributions. Additionally, a shape classification method was tested to identify the solution as unimodal or bimodal, by counting the number of shape agreements after 1000 repetitions. Results: The accuracy of the results showed a high dependence on the noise amplitude. The best algorithm for SSE and moments included the constrained and the WM solvers, whereas shape agreement improved without WM, resulting in 97.2 % for unimodal and 90.0 % for bimodal distributions in the highest noise condition. Conclusions: In conclusion this generalized method was able to identify v/V distributions from a lung model with a common series dead space even with variable VT. Although limitations remain in presence of experimental noise, appropriate combination of processing steps were also found to reduce estimation errors.

Pacientes portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC) podem apresentar assincronia toracoabdominal (ATA). Existem diversos métodos de estimativa da ATA, porém, não há um consenso sobre qual é o mais adequado. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar dois métodos de estimativa da assincronia toracoabdominal e avaliar a ineficiência ventilatória em pacientes DPOC no repouso e durante o exercício. Foram avaliados 22 pacientes com DPOC (VEF1 40,2±10,5% predito) e 13 indivíduos controle (GC) pareados por idade, gênero e índice de massa corpórea. A cinemática toracoabdominal foi avaliada utilizando pletismografia optoeletrônica no repouso e durante o exercício leve e moderado (70% da carga máxima) no ciclo ergômetro. A ATA foi calculada entre a caixa torácica superior (CTS) e inferior (CTI) e o abdome (ABD) utilizando os métodos de ângulo de fase (AF) e relação de fase (RF). A ineficiência ventilatória foi calculada em cada compartimento como a diferença entre o volume máximo (VM) e o volume calculado (VC) de acordo com o ciclo respiratório (determinado pela soma de volume dos três compartimentos) dividida pelo volume máximo (VM-VC)/VM. Os pacientes com DPOC foram classificados como assíncronos (grupo AT) ou não assíncronos (grupo NA) utilizando como referência os valores do GC. Foi utilizado o teste qui-quadrado ou de Fisher para avaliar a discriminação de pacientes entre os métodos e o ANOVA de dois fatores para comparações entre os grupos. O nível de significância foi ajustado para 5%. O método AF determinou maior número de pacientes com ATA quando comparado com RF no repouso (respectivamente, 15 vs. 7) e no exercício leve (11 vs. 3) e moderado (14 vs. 8). Os valores de assincronia no grupo AT entre CTS-CTI e CTI-ABD foram maiores no repouso (AF: 35,7±45,4° e -42,2±42,5° e RF: 61,8±29,1° e -66,9±27,4°, respectivamente) e no exercício leve (AF: 53,3±35,6° e -55,8±40,4°; RF: 106,1±40,3° e - 124,8±17,2°) e moderado (AF: 61,6±55,1° e -75,9±44,8°; RF: 85,9±23,6° e -81,8±42,2°) quando comparados com os grupos NA (p < 0,05) e GC (p < 0,05). Na análise entre CTSABD não houve diferença entre os grupos. Observou-se que o grupo AT apresentou menor contribuição e maior ineficiência ventilatória da CTI em todos os momentos de avaliação e, durante o exercício moderado, menor volume corrente quando comparado com os grupos NA e GC. Os nossos resultados sugerem que o ângulo de fase apresenta maior detecção de ATA nos pacientes com DPOC. A presença de assincronia parece ocorrer principalmente na caixa torácica inferior e associada com menor contribuição e maior ineficiência ventilatória deste compartimento / Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients can present thoracoabdominal asynchrony (TAA). There are several TAA estimation techniques, however, there is no consensus about which is the most appropriate. The aim of this study was to compare two thoracoabdominal asynchrony quantification techniques and to assess chest wall ventilatory inefficiency in COPD patients at rest and during exercise. We evaluated 22 COPD patients (FEV1 40,2±10,5% predicted) and 13 healthy controls (CG) matched by age, gender and body mass index. Thoracoabdominal kinematics was assessed via optoelectronic plethysmography at rest and during mild and moderate exercise (70 % maximum workload) in a cycle ergometer. TAA was calculated among upper (URC) and lower ribcage (LRC) and abdomen (ABD) by using the phase angle (PA) and phase relation (PR) approaches. Ventilatory Inefficiency was estimated in each compartment as the difference between the maximal volume (VM) and the volume (VC) calculated according to respiratory timing (sum of volume in the 3 compartments) divided by the maximal volume (VM-VC)/VM. COPD patients were classified as asynchronous (AT group) or not (NA group) by using as reference the values on the controls. Chi-square or Fisher\'s exact test was used for assessing the patients differentiation between the two TAA quantification approaches and two-way ANOVA was used to compare respiratory parameters among groups (CG, AT and NA). Statistical significance was set at 5% level. PA approach determined more patients as asynchronous when compared to RF at rest (respectively, 15 vs. 7) and during mild (11 vs. 3) and moderate (14 vs. 8) exercise. Asynchrony values in AT group among URC-LRC and LRC-ABD were greater at rest (respectively, 35.7±45.4° and -42.2±42.5° with PA and 61.8±29.1° and -66.9±27.4° with PR) and during mild (PA: 53.3±35.6° and -55.8±40.4°; PR: 106.1±40.3° and -124.8±17.2°) and moderate exercise (PA: 61.6±55.1° and - 75.9±44.8°; PR: 85.9±23.6° and -81.8±42.2°) when compared to NA (p < 0.05) and CG (p < 0.05). Analysis among URC-ABD presented no difference between groups. It was observed that AT group presented a smaller LRC contribution and greater ventilatory inefficiency during all assessing moments and, during moderate exercise, had a lower tidal volume when compared to NA and CG. Our results suggest that phase angle approach presents larger TAA detection in COPD patients. This asynchrony seems to occur mainly in the lower ribcage and be associated with decreased contribution and increased ventilatory inefficiency of this compartment

O momento ideal para a extubação de crianças graves é ainda difícil de ser avaliado. A razão entre espaço morto e volume corrente (Vd/Vt), como valor preditiva de extubação bem sucedida, já foi testada em adultos e crianças. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficácia do Vd/Vt, como preditivo do sucesso da extubação, em crianças de uma UTI pediátrica geral. Após aplicação dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, testou-se o Vd/Vt em 86 pacientes extubados num período de 16 meses. Nos estudos estatísticos o índice Vd/Vt médio não discriminou os grupos de falha e sucesso na extubação nas análises uni e multivariada. O valor do índice, com corte em 0,65, foi limitado na sensibilidade e especificidade e mediano na razão de verossimilhança. O estudo sugere que o índice Vd/Vt, pode ser considerado como complementar aos dados de avaliação clínica no momento da extubação. / The ideal moment for extubation of critically ill children is still difficult to determine. The dead-space : tidal volume ratio (Vd/Vt) has been tested as predictor of extubation failure in adults and children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Vd/Vt as a predictor of the success of extubation in children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit. After the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 86 patients were studied during 16 months. The statistical study revealed that the mean Vd/Vt was not able to discriminate between failure and success of extubation in the multivariate analysis. The utility of the Vd/Vt was limited, in terms of sensibility and specificity, using a cutoff of 0,65, but was medially satisfactory in the likelihood ratio. This study suggests that the Vd/Vt can only be considered as complementary to the routine clinical evaluation prior to extubation.

O momento ideal para a extubação de crianças graves é ainda difícil de ser avaliado. A razão entre espaço morto e volume corrente (Vd/Vt), como valor preditiva de extubação bem sucedida, já foi testada em adultos e crianças. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficácia do Vd/Vt, como preditivo do sucesso da extubação, em crianças de uma UTI pediátrica geral. Após aplicação dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, testou-se o Vd/Vt em 86 pacientes extubados num período de 16 meses. Nos estudos estatísticos o índice Vd/Vt médio não discriminou os grupos de falha e sucesso na extubação nas análises uni e multivariada. O valor do índice, com corte em 0,65, foi limitado na sensibilidade e especificidade e mediano na razão de verossimilhança. O estudo sugere que o índice Vd/Vt, pode ser considerado como complementar aos dados de avaliação clínica no momento da extubação. / The ideal moment for extubation of critically ill children is still difficult to determine. The dead-space : tidal volume ratio (Vd/Vt) has been tested as predictor of extubation failure in adults and children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Vd/Vt as a predictor of the success of extubation in children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit. After the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 86 patients were studied during 16 months. The statistical study revealed that the mean Vd/Vt was not able to discriminate between failure and success of extubation in the multivariate analysis. The utility of the Vd/Vt was limited, in terms of sensibility and specificity, using a cutoff of 0,65, but was medially satisfactory in the likelihood ratio. This study suggests that the Vd/Vt can only be considered as complementary to the routine clinical evaluation prior to extubation.

Pacientes portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC) podem apresentar assincronia toracoabdominal (ATA). Existem diversos métodos de estimativa da ATA, porém, não há um consenso sobre qual é o mais adequado. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar dois métodos de estimativa da assincronia toracoabdominal e avaliar a ineficiência ventilatória em pacientes DPOC no repouso e durante o exercício. Foram avaliados 22 pacientes com DPOC (VEF1 40,2±10,5% predito) e 13 indivíduos controle (GC) pareados por idade, gênero e índice de massa corpórea. A cinemática toracoabdominal foi avaliada utilizando pletismografia optoeletrônica no repouso e durante o exercício leve e moderado (70% da carga máxima) no ciclo ergômetro. A ATA foi calculada entre a caixa torácica superior (CTS) e inferior (CTI) e o abdome (ABD) utilizando os métodos de ângulo de fase (AF) e relação de fase (RF). A ineficiência ventilatória foi calculada em cada compartimento como a diferença entre o volume máximo (VM) e o volume calculado (VC) de acordo com o ciclo respiratório (determinado pela soma de volume dos três compartimentos) dividida pelo volume máximo (VM-VC)/VM. Os pacientes com DPOC foram classificados como assíncronos (grupo AT) ou não assíncronos (grupo NA) utilizando como referência os valores do GC. Foi utilizado o teste qui-quadrado ou de Fisher para avaliar a discriminação de pacientes entre os métodos e o ANOVA de dois fatores para comparações entre os grupos. O nível de significância foi ajustado para 5%. O método AF determinou maior número de pacientes com ATA quando comparado com RF no repouso (respectivamente, 15 vs. 7) e no exercício leve (11 vs. 3) e moderado (14 vs. 8). Os valores de assincronia no grupo AT entre CTS-CTI e CTI-ABD foram maiores no repouso (AF: 35,7±45,4° e -42,2±42,5° e RF: 61,8±29,1° e -66,9±27,4°, respectivamente) e no exercício leve (AF: 53,3±35,6° e -55,8±40,4°; RF: 106,1±40,3° e - 124,8±17,2°) e moderado (AF: 61,6±55,1° e -75,9±44,8°; RF: 85,9±23,6° e -81,8±42,2°) quando comparados com os grupos NA (p < 0,05) e GC (p < 0,05). Na análise entre CTSABD não houve diferença entre os grupos. Observou-se que o grupo AT apresentou menor contribuição e maior ineficiência ventilatória da CTI em todos os momentos de avaliação e, durante o exercício moderado, menor volume corrente quando comparado com os grupos NA e GC. Os nossos resultados sugerem que o ângulo de fase apresenta maior detecção de ATA nos pacientes com DPOC. A presença de assincronia parece ocorrer principalmente na caixa torácica inferior e associada com menor contribuição e maior ineficiência ventilatória deste compartimento / Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients can present thoracoabdominal asynchrony (TAA). There are several TAA estimation techniques, however, there is no consensus about which is the most appropriate. The aim of this study was to compare two thoracoabdominal asynchrony quantification techniques and to assess chest wall ventilatory inefficiency in COPD patients at rest and during exercise. We evaluated 22 COPD patients (FEV1 40,2±10,5% predicted) and 13 healthy controls (CG) matched by age, gender and body mass index. Thoracoabdominal kinematics was assessed via optoelectronic plethysmography at rest and during mild and moderate exercise (70 % maximum workload) in a cycle ergometer. TAA was calculated among upper (URC) and lower ribcage (LRC) and abdomen (ABD) by using the phase angle (PA) and phase relation (PR) approaches. Ventilatory Inefficiency was estimated in each compartment as the difference between the maximal volume (VM) and the volume (VC) calculated according to respiratory timing (sum of volume in the 3 compartments) divided by the maximal volume (VM-VC)/VM. COPD patients were classified as asynchronous (AT group) or not (NA group) by using as reference the values on the controls. Chi-square or Fisher\'s exact test was used for assessing the patients differentiation between the two TAA quantification approaches and two-way ANOVA was used to compare respiratory parameters among groups (CG, AT and NA). Statistical significance was set at 5% level. PA approach determined more patients as asynchronous when compared to RF at rest (respectively, 15 vs. 7) and during mild (11 vs. 3) and moderate (14 vs. 8) exercise. Asynchrony values in AT group among URC-LRC and LRC-ABD were greater at rest (respectively, 35.7±45.4° and -42.2±42.5° with PA and 61.8±29.1° and -66.9±27.4° with PR) and during mild (PA: 53.3±35.6° and -55.8±40.4°; PR: 106.1±40.3° and -124.8±17.2°) and moderate exercise (PA: 61.6±55.1° and - 75.9±44.8°; PR: 85.9±23.6° and -81.8±42.2°) when compared to NA (p < 0.05) and CG (p < 0.05). Analysis among URC-ABD presented no difference between groups. It was observed that AT group presented a smaller LRC contribution and greater ventilatory inefficiency during all assessing moments and, during moderate exercise, had a lower tidal volume when compared to NA and CG. Our results suggest that phase angle approach presents larger TAA detection in COPD patients. This asynchrony seems to occur mainly in the lower ribcage and be associated with decreased contribution and increased ventilatory inefficiency of this compartment

Background: This work presents a generalized technique to estimate pulmonary ventilation-to-volume (v/V) distributions using the multiple-breath nitrogen washout, in which both tidal volume (VT) and the end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) are allowed to vary during the maneuver. In addition, the volume of the series dead space (vd), unlike the classical model, is considered a common series unit connected to a set of parallel alveolar units. Methods: The numerical solution for simulated data, either error-free or with the N2 measurement contaminated with the addition of Gaussian random noise of 3 or 5 % standard deviation was tested under several conditions in a computational model constituted by 50 alveolar units with unimodal and bimodal distributions of v/V. Non-negative least squares regression with Tikhonov regularization was employed for parameter retrieval. The solution was obtained with either unconstrained or constrained (VT, EELV and vd) conditions. The Tikhonov gain was fixed or estimated and a weighting matrix (WM) was considered. The quality of estimation was evaluated by the sum of the squared errors (SSE) (between reference and recovered distributions) and by the deviations of the first three moments calculated for both distributions. Additionally, a shape classification method was tested to identify the solution as unimodal or bimodal, by counting the number of shape agreements after 1000 repetitions. Results: The accuracy of the results showed a high dependence on the noise amplitude. The best algorithm for SSE and moments included the constrained and the WM solvers, whereas shape agreement improved without WM, resulting in 97.2 % for unimodal and 90.0 % for bimodal distributions in the highest noise condition. Conclusions: In conclusion this generalized method was able to identify v/V distributions from a lung model with a common series dead space even with variable VT. Although limitations remain in presence of experimental noise, appropriate combination of processing steps were also found to reduce estimation errors.