Measuring lung function Flashcards
How does a patient take a spirometry test?
- Can be done slowly or “forced”
- Most often done as forced expiration
FVC or “Tiffeneau” manoeuvre
- Take a deep breath in
- Don’t hold your breath
- Put your lips round the outside of the tube
and blow out as hard as you can
for as long as you can
How do you interpret spirometry results?
A patient’s PFT values (except the FEV1/FVC ratio) are compared to predicted values, which are derived from a healthy population of people of the same gender and of similar age and height
What does this spirometry graph show?
Age-related loss of lung elasticity -> decline in FVC and FEV1
What do spirometry results vary by?
Vary by gender, height, and age
What is classed as an abnormal spirometry result?
Abnormal result: any result < 80% of the predicted value
Or: any results < lower limit of normal
What does this show?
Normal spirometry result
What is the lower limit of normal?
The lower limit of normal (LLN) is taken to be equal to the 5th percentile of a healthy, non-smoking population
What FEVI/FVC ration shows obstruction?
FEV1/FVC ratio: should exhale > 70% of FVC in first second
If FEV1/FVC < 0.7, then obstruction is present
What does this spirometry show?
Obstruction
What does this spirometry show?
Severe obstruction
What type of graph is this?
Flow Volume loop
What does the lilac line show?
Early Airflow Obstruction
What does early airway obstruction look like on an expiratory flow-volume loop?
PEFR may be normal
Mid-Expiratory Flow Rate usually more affected
Lilac line
What does the orange line show?
What type of graph is this?
Severe Airflow Obstruction
Expiratory Flow-Volume Loop
What does the orange line show?
What type of graph is this?
Extra-Thoracic Obstruction (including tracheal stenosis, retrosternal goitre, etc)
Expiratory flow-volume loop
What do flow-volume loops indicate?
Flow volume loops can indicate where obstruction is located in the tracheobronchial tree
Complete the diagram on what the obstruction is in these flow-volume loops
What are the benefits of peak flow rate?
Easy to perform
Easy to maintain device