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Park, Park, Hong, Kim, Lee, Kim, Kim, Ha, Chon, Kim, and Yoo: Usefulness of Vibration Response Imaging (VRI) for Pneumonia Patients
Original Article
Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2011; 71(1): 30-36.

Published online: 31 July 2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2011.71.1.30

Usefulness of Vibration Response Imaging (VRI) for Pneumonia Patients

Eugene Park, M.D.1, Jung Hee Park, M.D.1, Mi-Jin Hong, M.D.1, Won Dong Kim, M.D., Ph.D.1, Kye Young Lee, M.D., Ph.D.1, Sun Jong Kim, M.D., Ph.D.1, Hee Joung Kim, M.D.1, Kyoung-Won Ha, M.D., Ph.D.2, Gyu Rak Chon, M.D.2, Hyun Ai Kim, B.A.1, Kwang Ha Yoo, M.D., Ph.D.1

1Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

2Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Chungju, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Kwang Ha Yoo, M.D., Ph.D. Division of Pulmonology, Konkuk University Medical Center, 4-12, Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-792, Korea. Phone: 82-2-2030-5060, Fax: 82-2-2030-7458, khyou@kuh.ac.kr

Received 13 February 2011       Accepted 21 June 2011

Copyright © 2011. The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases. All rights reserved.

Abstract

Background

Pneumonia is commonly seen in outpatient clinics. it is widely known as the most common cause of death from infectious disease. Pneumonia has been diagnosed by its typical symptoms, chest X-ray and blood tests. However, both chest X-rays and blood tests have limitations in diagnosis. Thus primary care clinicians usually have been constrained due to a lack of adequate diagnostic tools. Vibration response imaging (VRI) is a newly emerging diagnostic modality, and its procedure is non-invasive, radiation-free, and easy to handle. This study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of the VRI test among pneumonia patients and to consider its correlation with other conventional tests such as Chest X-ray, laboratory tests and clinical symptoms.

Methods

VRI was performed in 46 patients diagnosed with pneumonia in Konkuk University Medical Center. VRI was assessed in a private and quiet room twice: before and after the treatment. Sensors for VRI were placed on a patient's back at regular intervals; they detected pulmonary vibration energy produced when respiration occurred and presented as specific images. Any modifications either in chest X-ray, C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBC) or body temperature were compared with changes in VRI image during a given time course.

Results

VRI, chest X-ray and CRP scores were significantly improved after treatment. Correlation between VRI and other tests was not clearly indicated among all patients. But relatively severe pneumonia patients showed correlations between VRI and chest X-ray, as well as between VRI and CRP.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that VRI can be safely applied to patients with pneumonia.

Keywords: Repiratory Sounds, Vibration, Pneumonia

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
(A) Sensors of VRI device were scattered on patient's back at a regular extent; the sensors were enclosed by silicon cups and vacuum pressure inside was regularly controlled by a computer. Respiratory sound was initially filtered; then amplified into sound signal. The sound signal was recorded as digital signal that had been transduced from its original analogue signal. (B) Recorded signal was shown in black at high energy intensity, while it was in gray when low energy intensity. It was white when vibration was absent; it was indicated as blue dots when crackles with specific frequency at each sensor were detected. Also it was presented as red dots when wheezing was observed.
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Figure 2
This above scatter diagram illustrated modifications in both VRI test and Chest X-ray in relatively severe pneumonia patient group with CURB-65 score of 1 point and more, which showed correlation (r=0.611, p-value=0.005). VRI: vibration response imaging; CURB: confusion, uremia, respiratory rate, blood pressure.
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Figure 3
This above scatter diagram indicated modifications in both VRI test and Chest X-ray in relatively severe pneumonia patient group with CURB-65 score of 1 point and more, which showed correlation (r=0.509, p-value=0.022). CRP: C-reactive protein; VRI: vibration response imaging; CURB: confusion, uremia, respiratory rate, blood pressure.
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Table 1
Baseline characteristics of the 46 patients
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Values are presented as mean±SD.

COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; SD: standard deviation.

Table 2
Mean value of each diagnostic tools detected initially and after treatment
trd-71-30-i002

Values are presented as mean±SD.

VRI: vibration response imaging; CRP: C-reactive protein; WBC: white blood cell count; SD: standard deviation.

Table 3
Correlation between VRI and other diagnostic tools
trd-71-30-i003

N: number; R: coefficient of correlation; p: p-value; CURB: confusion, uremia, respiratory rate, blood pressure.

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