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Background

COPD exacerbations are characterized by increased dyspnea and an acute decrease in pulmonary function. It is believed that this acute event is of a heterogeneous nature, both inter and intra patient. The differences in both the level and progression of breathlessness during an exacerbation do not correlate well with the classical parameters such as blood oxygen saturation or lung function. In exacerbations, an increase in airway resistance and/or hyperinflation is often observed but very difficult to measure the acute by lung function. Functional respiratory imaging (FRI) makes it possible to assess the airway volumes, resistances and hyperinflation on a regional level, in stable state COPD and perhaps during exacerbations [ERJ 2014, 44 (2): 527-529].