Patterns in Various Diseases
Patterns in Various Diseases There are patterns of pulmonary function test abnormalities that are typical for most patients with a particular disease. Table 12-1 expands on Table 3-1, adding data…
Simple Tests of Exercise Capacity
Simple Tests of Exercise Capacity In most instances, the clinician has an estimate of a patient’s exercise capacity. This is based on the history, results of physical examination, and pertinent…
Preoperative Pulmonary Function Testing
Preoperative Pulmonary Function Testing The goals of preoperative pulmonary function testing are (1) to detect unrecognized lung disease, (2) to estimate the risk of operation compared with the potential benefit,…
Distribution of Ventilation
Distribution of Ventilation Various pathologic processes alter the normal pattern of ventilation distribution (i.e., the uniformity with which an inhaled breath is distributed to all the alveoli). For this reason,…
Other Tests of Lung Mechanics: Resistance and Compliance
Other Tests of Lung Mechanics: Resistance and Compliance The tests described here are usually performed in fully equipped laboratories. In the outpatient setting, they add relatively little to the basic…
Arterial Blood Gases
Arterial Blood Gases Arterial blood gas analysis is performed to answer various clinical questions: Is gas exchange normal? Is there carbon dioxide retention in the patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary…
Bronchodilators and Bronchial Challenge Testing
Bronchodilators and Bronchial Challenge Testing When a patient undergoes pulmonary function tests for the first time, it is almost always worthwhile to have spirometry performed before and after the administration…
Diffusing Capacity of the Lungs
Diffusing Capacity of the Lungs An important step in the transfer of oxygen from ambient air to the arterial blood is the process of diffusion, that is, the transfer of…
Static (Absolute) Lung Volumes
Static (Absolute) Lung Volumes Measures of the so-called static (or absolute) lung volumes are often informative.1 The most important are the vital capacity (VC), residual volume (RV), and total lung…
Spirometry: Dynamic Lung Volumes
Spirometry: Dynamic Lung Volumes Spirometry is used to measure the rate at which the lung changes volume during forced breathing maneuvers. The most commonly performed test uses the forced expiratory…
