lung function testing Flashcards
what are the devices used for lung function testing?
peak flow meter
vitalograph
spirometer
peak flow meter
measures peak expiratory flow rate
rapid exhaled puff from full inspiration
normal peak flow range
500-600L/min
vitalograph
sustained forced expiration from full inspiration
what does vitalograph measure?
measures volumes exhaled
FVC
FEV1
cannot measure residual volume
what is the slope on a vitalograph?
PEFR - measured by peak flow meter
normal vitalograph
FEV1/FVC greater than 0.75/ 75%
spirometer
measures continuous trace
work of breathing
2 factors to overcome = resistance and compliance
resistance
ease with which gas flows through conducting airways
compliance
expandability of lungs and chest wall
increasing resistance
obstructive disease
what happens to vitalograph in obstructive disease?
same volume but takes longer to reach, gentler initial slope and plateaus later . FVC is same FEV1 decreases and ratio of FEV1:FVC decreases
decreases compliance
restrictive disease
what happens in obstructive disease?
increasing resistance
what happens in restrictive disease?
decreasing compliance
what happens to vitalograph in restrictive disease?
lungs cannot expand normally because of restriction . FVC decreases, FEV1 decreases and the ratio stays the same . the line is the same shape as the normal line but lower
what causes variation in lung function test results?
gender
height
age
example of obstructive diseases
asthma
COPD
example of restrictive diseases?
pulmonary fibrosis
sarcoidosis
what does a spirometer measure?
IRV
VC
Vt
ERV
what does a spirometer calculate for the height/ gender/ age of the person but is unable to measure?
FRC
RV
TLC
what is Vt
tidal volume
what is IRV
inspiratory reserve volume - how much more can be breathed in on top of tidal volume