|
A breathing test or series of tests
to determine:
- maximum volume of air the lungs
can hold
- how fast the patient can move air
into and out of their lungs
- how easy it is for gas to pass from
the lungs to the blood and the surface area available for
gas movement
A certified or registered pulmonary
function technician.
Basic Pulmonary Function Test
- Test names: PFT, Spirogram, Pulmonary
Function Screen, or Flow-volume loop.
-
Description of test: Forced inspiration, forced expiration,
followed by another forced inspiration.
- Values obtained: FVC, FEV1.0, FEF(25-75%),
FEV/FVC, PEF, PIF
- Measures: how fast patient can move
air
Test names: B/A PFT, B/A Spirogram,
B/A Flow-volume loop
-
Description of test: forced inspiration, forced expiration,
followed by another forced expiration. Administer bronchodilator.
Wait approximately 15 minutes and test as before.
- Values obtained: FVC, FEV1.0, EF
(25-75%), FEV/FVC, PEF, PIF (Before and after bronchodilator
administration).
- Measures: how fast patient can move
air before and after therapy.
Test Names: Lung volumes, FRC (Functional
Residual Capacity), TLC (Total Lung Capacity), Helium Dilution
Study, RV (Residual Volume Determination)
-
Description of test: Patient breathes a small volume
of helium over a three to seven minute period, followed
by a forced expiratory maneuver, followed by a slow inspiratory
maneuver.
- Values obtained: SVC (slow vital
capacity), FRC, RV, TLC, RV/TLC.
-
Measures: volumes of the lung.
Test names: DLCO (carbon monoxide diffusion
test), Lung Diffusion Test
- Description of test: Patient breathes
a small volume of carbon monoxide gas (nonlethal amount),
holds breath for 10 seconds and exhales.
- Values obtained: DLCO, DLVA
- Measures: Diffusion capacity of
lungs and determines surface area.
Contact NEUMED at 330-721-4747 for
more information.
|
