Mini review shows that structured light plethysmography provides a non-contact method for evaluating breathing patterns in children.

AIM: Structured light plethysmography (SLP) is a novel light-based method that captures chest wall movements to evaluate tidal breathing. We carried out a narrative mini review of the clinical use of SLP in paediatrics.

METHODS: PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for papers published in English up to December 2018. This identified a methodology paper published in 2010 and eight full papers, including three paediatric studies and one paediatric case report. We also included data from ten conference abstracts and one clinical case study.

RESULTS: We found data that validated the ability of SLP to differentiate airway obstruction from tidal breathing parameters and bronchodilator responsiveness for children aged two years and over. Non-contact measurement of regional chest wall movement was a unique feature. Feasibility data were scarce and more studies are needed, especially in infants. Preliminary studies suggest that SLP has the potential to be used in cases of dysfunctional breathing and neuromuscular diseases and as a follow-up tool after lung infections or surgery.

CONCLUSION: Structured light plethysmography has been validated to demonstrate lung function abnormality in paediatric asthma, but further studies are needed to demonstrate its benefits over current practice and how it can be used for other conditions.