To begin, prepare one or more Tedlar bags, containing air, for the subject to practice outside the scanner. Use an air volume that matches the total volume of xenon and buffer gas to be inhaled from the bag during the actual study. Prepare nose clips for the subject to wear during breath hold scanning, fit the nose clips onto the subject's nose before the start of breath holds.
Use one air-filled bag for each attempt to coach the subject. Before producing the bag, ask the subject to breathe in and breathe out regularly several times. During the procedure, monitor the subject's chest to confirm that they are executing the instructions properly.
Next, place the tube attached to the Tedlar bag into the subject's mouth. Hold the bag such that the subject can inhale from it and open the valve. Ask the subject to breathe in, then ask the subject to hold their breath by saying, hold your breath.
When practicing, wait for a count of 10 to 15 seconds, which is the approximate amount of time required for a typical xenon 129 scan to elapse. After that, ask the subject to exhale at this point and breathe. Coach the subject to take several deep breaths in and out for a quicker clearance of xenon 129 from the lungs and a quicker return to normal oxygen saturation levels.
Verify that the subject is able to carry out the instructions reliably and consider excluding subjects who cannot do so during practice runs.
