Elimination of the respiratory effect on the thoracic impedance signal with whole-body impedance cardiography

The study presents a method for quantification of the respiratory effect on the thoracic impedance signal. We used measurements with 18 simultaneously scanning impedance signal locations. Elimination of breathing is based on the assumption that the neck and limb impedance signal measures only the variability in systemic blood pressure and is not affected by respiration. The results show approximately double the respiration variability in thorax impedance parameters in comparison with legs and neck. Conclusion: Whole-body impedance signal measurements and processing reflect changes in the hemodynamic system not affected by respiration. By using retrospective reconstruction we can eliminate the influence of respiration on the impedance signal from the chest.