Lecture 15 - Pulmonary Function Test Flashcards
What do pulmonary function tests measure?
Lung volumes
Rate of airflow
Gas exchange
Severity and progression of lung disease
What health and safety measures are done before spirometry and peak flow?
If gonna cough stay on mouthpiece
Hand hygiene
Peak flows to be wiped using alcohol wipes, dispose of mouthpiece
Don’t volunteer if you have contraindications to spirometry
What are some contraindications to spirometry?
Eye surgery (due to inc pressure in eyes)
Surgery’s
Lung disease
Ear infection
Cardiovascular disease
Aneurysms
Acute, nausea, vomitting and diarrhoea
Infection control issues
Confused pasties
What is peak expiratory flow and hows it done?
Patient blows into the mouth piece as hard as they can after taking a deep breath
Then a value for FEV1 is measured
Then work out FEV1:FVC ratio
What is the normal value for FEV1:FVC?
FEV1:FVC > 0.8
What is the definition of peak expiratory flow?
Max airflow rate attained during forced expiration
What is the point of spirometry/what does it do?
Used to measure lung volumes
Calculates airflow as volumes are measured overtime
What is tidal volume?
The amount of air moving in and out of our lungs at rest
What is inspiratory reserve volume
The additional amount to fair that can be inhaled after a normal inspiration
What is expiratory reserve volume?
The additional amount of air that can be exhaled after the normal expiration
What is residual volume?
The amount of air that remains in the lungs after maximum forceful expiration
What is inspiratory capacity?
The total volume of air that can be inspired following a normal expiration
What is functional residual capacity?
The volume of air present in the lungs of passive expiration
What is vital capacity?
The maximum volume of air that can be moved into or out of the lungs in one breath
What values are added together to measure vital capacity?
VC = IRV + TV + ERV
What is total lung capacity?
Volume of air contained lungs at end of a maximal inspiration
What are the 2 clinically relevant values that can be measured in spirometry?
FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second)
FVC (forced vital capacity)
From this the FEV1/FVC
What is FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second)?
The maximum volume of air that can be forcefully expired within 1 second after maximal inspiration
What condition is FEV1 reduced in?
COPD
What is Forced Vital capacity?
The total amount of air exhaled after maximal inspiration during entire FEV test
What does FEV1/FVC ratio actually mean?
The proportion of patients FVC that they can expire in the first second of forced expiration
What value of FEV1:FVC ratio indicates obstructive disease?
FEV1/FVC < 0.7
What are the 2 graphs that can be produced form spirometry?
Volume-time plot
Flow-volume loop
How can you determine FEV1 from a volume time plot?
See what volume is achieved at 1s on the plot
(1s on x axis, go up to curve, then read across to Y to find the volume)