Lung Testing - Flash Cards
Describe the helium dilution technique.
- Helium concentration used is usually ___%
- The helium is mixed with ___ ___.
- The patient rebreathes the mixture for ___ minutes.
- “Switch in” begins at this part of the breath.
- Because the patient rebreathes the mixture, you’ll need a ___
- 10% concentration
- room air
- 7 minutes
- end expiration
- CO2 scrubber
How do you know when to end a helium dilution test?
The end of the test occurs when the helium concentration changes by less than 0.02% over 30 seconds.
Look for 2-3 similar readings on the exam.
*page C-7
Helium Dilution:
- If the helium starts to rise, this is a good indication of what?
- Why does the helium concentration rise?
- That there is no leak in the system
- The concentration may rise because you are consuming gas (the O2) in a closed system. This lowers the baseline volume of gas in the system, causing the ratio of helium to other gases to increase.
When troubleshooting the body box, erroneously high FRC measurements (out of proportion to clinical history or other values) may be the result of
1.
2.
3.
4.
- leaks
- ruptured eardrum
- switch in happened before end-expiration
- analyzer failure
Gas Cylinder Troubleshooting:
If the cylinder pressure is low, what should you do?
Is 50 psi a low pressure?
Full tanks are normally ___ psi.
replace the cylinder
yes.
2200 psi
Describe the nitrogen washout technique.
Patient rebreathes ___% oxygen for up to ___ minutes, or until the N2 is < ___%.
100% oxygen
7 minutes
< 1%
What part of the breath should switch in occur for a nitrogen washout test?
end expiration
Is nitrogen washout an “open” system?
Does rebreathing occur in the test?
Do you need a CO2 scrubber?
Yes it is an open system.
No rebreathing occurs in an open system
Since no rebreathing occurs, you do not need a CO2 scrubber.
Which method is the “most accurate” test for measuring static volumes?
What is its FRC equivalent measurement called?
The body box (body plethysmograph)
Thoracic Gas Volume, V-tg.
If a V-tg is larger than the FRC value on another type of test, what caused the difference?
Trapped air. The body box will measure all trapped gases
Body box troubleshooting: Choose either mouth or box for each of the blanks
- The vertical signal on a body box reading is produced by the ___, which measures pressure.
- The horizontal signal on a body box reading is produced by the ___, which measures volume.
- Mouth (associate with vertical signal and pressure)
2. Box (associate with horizontal signal and volume)
Name the 4 tests that can be used to measure static lung volumes (aka, any volume including RV)
1.
2.
3.
4.
- helium dilution
- nitrogen washout
- radiologic estimation
- body plethysmograph
A positive methacholine challenge test occurs when there is a ___% decrease in the ___.
20% decrease in the FEV1
- How long should you hold a SABA before a methacholine challenge test?
- How long should you hold a LABA before a methacholine challenge test?
- Do beta blockers affect the test results?
- SABA 8 hours
- LABA 48 hours
- Yes.
A 15% decrease in FEV1 is considered a positive test for which two methods?
Exercise testing and Mannitol challenge.