Pulmonary function testing: Difference between revisions

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{{Pulmonary function}}

'''Pulmonary function testing''' ('''PFT''') is a complete evaluation of the [[respiratory system]] including patient history, physical examinations, and tests of pulmonary function. The primary purpose of pulmonary function testing is to identify the severity of pulmonary impairment.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Burrows B | title = Pulmonary terms and symbols: A report of the ACCP-ATS joint committee on pulmonary nomenclature. | journal = Chest | date = May 1975 | volume = 67 | issue = 5 | pages = 583–593 | doi = 10.1378/chest.67.5.583 | pmid = 1126197 }}</ref> Pulmonary function testing has diagnostic and therapeutic roles and helps clinicians answer some general questions about patients with lung disease. PFTs are normally performed by a pulmonary function techniciantechnologist, respiratory therapist, respiratory physiologist, physiotherapist, [[pulmonology|pulmonologist]], or general practitioner.

==Indications==

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The measurements taken by the spirometry device are used to generate a pneumotachograph that can help to assess lung conditions such as: asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. [[Physician]]s may also use the test results to diagnose bronchial hyperresponsiveness to exercise, cold air, or pharmaceutical agents.<ref>{{cite web | title = Pulmonary Function Test in New York | date = June 2010 | vauthors = Gafanovich M | url = http://www.mynycdoctor.com/pulmonary-function-testing }}</ref>

==== Helium Dilutiondilution ====

{{Main|Helium dilution technique}}

The [[helium dilution technique]] for measuring lung volumes uses a closed, rebreathing circuit.<ref name="pmid5475674">{{cite journal | vauthors = Hathirat S, Mitchell M, Renzetti AD | title = Measurement of the total lung capacity by helium dilution in a constant volume system | journal = The American Review of Respiratory Disease | volume = 102 | issue = 5 | pages = 760–70 | date = November 1970 | pmid = 5475674 | doi = 10.1164/arrd.1970.102.5.760 | doi-broken-date = 3112 JanuaryJuly 20242025 }}</ref> This technique is based on the assumptions that a known volume and concentration of helium in air begin in the closed [[spirometer]], that the patient has no helium in their lungs, and that an equilibration of helium can occur between the spirometer and the lungs.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

==== Nitrogen Washoutwashout ====

{{Main|Nitrogen washout}}

The [[nitrogen washout]] technique uses a non-rebreathing open circuit. The technique is based on the assumptions that the nitrogen concentration in the lungs is 78% and in equilibrium with the atmosphere, that the patient inhales 100% oxygen and that the oxygen replaces all of the nitrogen in the lungs.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Boren HG, Kory RC, Syner JC | title = The Veterans Administration-Army cooperative study of pulmonary function: II. The lung volume and its subdivisions in normal men. | journal = The American Journal of Medicine | date = July 1966 | volume = 41 | issue = 1 | pages = 96–114 | doi = 10.1016/0002-9343(66)90008-8 }}</ref>

===Plethysmography===

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===Oxygen desaturation during exercise===

The six-minute walk test is a good index of physical function and therapeutic response in patients with [[chronica lung disease (disambiguation)|chronic [[lung disease]], such as [[COPD]] or [[idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis]].<ref name="pmid12890299">{{cite journal | vauthors = Enright PL | title = The six-minute walk test | journal = Respiratory Care | volume = 48 | issue = 8 | pages = 783–785 | date = August 2003 | pmid = 12890299 }}</ref><ref name="pmid19996335">{{cite journal | vauthors = Swigris JJ, Wamboldt FS, Behr J, du Bois RM, King TE, Raghu G, Brown KK | title = The 6 minute walk in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: longitudinal changes and minimum important difference | journal = Thorax | volume = 65 | issue = 2 | pages = 173–177 | date = February 2010 | pmid = 19996335 | pmc = 3144486 | doi = 10.1136/thx.2009.113498 }}</ref><ref name="pmid12091180">{{cite journal | author = ATS Committee on Proficiency Standards for Clinical Pulmonary Function Laboratories | title = ATS statement: guidelines for the six-minute walk test | journal = American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine | volume = 166 | issue = 1 | pages = 111–117 | date = July 2002 | pmid = 12091180 | doi = 10.1164/ajrccm.166.1.at1102 }}</ref>

===Arterial blood gases===

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== Risks ==

Pulmonary function testing is a safe procedure; however, there is cause for concern regarding untoward reactions and the value of the test data should be weighed against potential hazards. Some complications include dizziness, shortness of breath, coughing, pneumothorax, and inducing an asthma attacksattack.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-19 |title=Pulmonary Function Tests |url=https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/pulmonary-function-tests |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=www.hopkinsmedicine.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pulmonary function tests: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia |url=https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003853.htm |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=medlineplus.gov |language=en}}</ref>

== Contraindications ==

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In order for the forced vital capacity to be considered accurate it has to be conducted three times where the peak is sharp in the flow-volume curve and the exhalation time is longer than 6 seconds.

ReproducibilityRepeatability of the PFT is determined by comparing the values of forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1). The difference between the highest values of two FVCs need to be within 5% or 150 mL. When the FVC is less than 1.0 L, the difference between the highest two values must be within 100 mL. Lastly, the difference between the two highest values of FEV1 should also be within 150 mL. The highest FVC and FEV1 may be used from each different test. Until the results of three tests meet the criteria of reproducibility, the test can be repeated up to eight times. If it is still not possible to get accurate results, the best three tests are used.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Sim YS, Lee JH, Lee WY, Suh DI, Oh YM, Yoon JS, Lee JH, Cho JH, Kwon CS, Chang JH | display-authors = 6 | title = Spirometry and Bronchodilator Test | journal = Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases | volume = 80 | issue = 2 | pages = 105–112 | date = April 2017 | pmid = 28416951 | pmc = 5392482 | doi = 10.4046/trd.2017.80.2.105 }}</ref>

==Clinical significance==

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* <math>MIP_{LLN}</math> = maximum inspiratory pressure lower limit of normal in cmH20

* <math>MEP_{LLN}</math> = maximum expiratory pressure lower limit of normal in cmH20

* <math>age</math> = the patient's age in years<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Evans JA, Whitelaw WA |date=October 2009 |title=The assessment of maximal respiratory mouth pressures in adults |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19796415/ |journal=Respiratory Care |volume=54 |issue=10 |pages=1348–1359 |pmid=19796415}}</ref>

== References ==