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 |