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Table 1 Principal advantages and drawbacks of invasive and noninvasive methods
From: Invasive and noninvasive methods for studying pulmonary function in mice
| Method | Pros | cons |
|---|---|---|
| Invasive | • sensitive and specific analysis of pulmonary mechanics | • technically demanding (instrumentation of the trachea, technical equipment) |
| • based on physiological principles | • need for anesthesia and tracheal instrumentation | |
| • intact anatomical relationships in the lung | • time-consuming | |
| • bypassing of upper airway resistance, controlled ventilation, and local administration of aerosols via the tracheal tube | • no repetitive measurements in tracheostomized animals | |
| • ease of broncho-alveolar lavage samplings | • expertise in handling | |
| • repetitive and long-term measurements in orotracheally intubated mice | ||
| • applicable to the assessment of obstructive and restrictive* lung disorders (*requires additional hard- and software) | ||
| noninvasive | • quick, easy-to-handle | • no direct assessment of pulmonary mechanics |
| • repetitive and/or longitudinal measurements of airway responsiveness in the same animal | • prone to artifacts (movements, temperature) | |
| • normal breathing pattern with no need for anesthesia or tracheal instrumentation | • contribution of upper airway resistance (changes of glottal aperture, nasal passages) | |
| • uncertainty about the exact magnitude and localization of bronchoconstriction |
