PFT (Raf) Flashcards
Why is PEF not used in pediatrics?
- Effort dependent
- High variability
- Low sensitivity
● It is effort dependent -PEF is affected by the fullness of the preceding inspiration, caliber of the large airways, expiratory muscle strength, and voluntary effort. As might be expected, PEF can vary substantially with patient effort and coordination
● It has high variability -When PEF and FEV1 are measured in the same subjects, the SD for PEF readings is consistently higher than that of FEV1
● PEF is less sensitive than standard spirometry in detecting reversibility of airflow obstruction after bronchodilator administration as well as worsening of airflow limitation in response to inhalational challenge
- Because PEF is so bad, often symptoms are actually better to monitor, apart from specific scenarios where there is value in PEF for short or long-term monitoring
Formula for Rint
Rint = Pao/Flow
Pao at time of occlusion
Flow prior to occlusion
(Need to document if maneuver during inspiration or expiration)
Resistance is for both airway and parenchymal resistance
How many acceptable maneuvers for PFT?
3 acceptable FEV1 and 3 acceptable FVC for grade A recommendation
What is usability versus acceptability of a maneuver?
There are strict criteria for a maneuver to be acceptable. A maneuver may be clinical useful (useable), even if not acceptable
What is the purpose of back extrapolated volume?
To determine the time “0” for the start of forced expiration and all the measurements. On a volume versus time graph, the peak flow corresponds to the steepest slope. Draw a tangent down to x axis to figure out time 0. The volume prior to time 0 is the back extrapolated volume.
Why is it important that the back extrapolated volume is not too high?
It ensures that FEV1 and FVC are from a maximal effort
What should the back extrapolated volume be?
<5% of FVC or <100 mL, which is greater.
This is part of acceptability for both FEV1 and FVC
What is hesitation time?
on the volume time graph that is used to calculate back extrapolated volume, the hestitation time is from maximal inhalation to time 0, as defined based on back extrapolatd volume. It should 2 seconds or less
If there is a high BEV, which parameter will be abnormal?
“eroneously high FEV1”–I don’t understand why
What is the last maneuver on a spirometry test?
- The last maneuver is a maximal inspiration (to TLC). Therefore, we describe EOFE (end of forced exhalation) as opposed to end of test
If EOFE is not achieved, which spirometric parameter is abnormal?
FVC (since the test is not really finished)
What are the criteria for EOFE?
Need to achieve one of: (These are in order of ideal to less ideal, but all are acceptable)
- Plateau: <25 mL/second change in the last second and this is the MOST reliable indicator. (Having glottic closure would over ride meeting this criteria)
- Forced exhalation time of >=15 seconds
OR
- For patients who can’t blow out long enough to achieve plateau (eg. kids who will have elastic recoil), they just need to achieve a consistent FVC, which is: greater than or within repeatability tolerance of largest FVC prior. (If there are 2 different sets of tests done such as pre/post bronchilator, you compare to the FVC within that set)
If EOFE is not met, is there any value in the forced exhalation time maneuver.
Yes, you would be able to use the FEV1 or the FEV0.75. (There is no requirement for a specific forced exhalation time)
How should FIVC compared to FVC for acceptability?
FIVC - FVC <=100 mL or 5% of FVC, which is greater
Which parameter is affected by cough in the first second?
Just the FEV1
Which parameter is affected by glottic closure in the first second? After first second?
First second: FEV1
After first second: FVC
What happens if there is a faulty zero flow setting?
Can over or underestimate both FEV1 and FVC
What are the within test acceptability criteria?
Start of test:
- Back extrapolated volume <5% of FVC or 100 mL, which is greater
- FIVC-FVC <5% of FVC or 100 mL, which is greater
(Same numbers to memorize for these initial criteria)
During test:
- No faulty zero flow setting
- No cough in first second
- No glottic closure in first second or after first scecond
- No leak
- No obstruction of mouthpiece
End of forced exhalation, achieve 1 of the 3 criteria:
- Plateau: <25 mL/second change in the last second of the test
- Expiratory time >=15 seconds
- FVC is larger than or within repeatability tolerance of the largest FVC prior
For the within test criteria, which criteria are NOT required for usability, but ARE required for acceptability?
4 of them:
- Glottic closure after first second
- Leak of mouthpiece
- Obstruction of mouthpiece
- FIVC - FVC
- All of the end of forced exhalation criteria
What are the repeatability criteria for >6 years of age?
- Two largest (so the largest and next largest) FVC within 150 mL
- Two largest FEV1 within 150 mL
What are the repeatability criteria for <= 6 years of age?
- Two largest FVC are within 100 mL or 10% of largest value, whichever is greater
- Two largest FEV1 are within 100 mL or 10% of largest value, whichever is greater
What is the maximum number of maneuvers?
8 in adults, may do more in children, be mindful of fatigue
For the spirometry report, how are other values (besides FEV1 and FVC determined)?
- FEV1/FVC is from the chosen FEV1 and FVC values
From the maneuver with highest sum of FEV1 and FVC–>I am 99% sure that this is not the case, there’s specifics about how other values are chosen
Which FEV1 and FVC for the spirometry report?
- FIVC and PEF: largest values from maneuver with acceptable FEV1
- Forced exhalation time is from maneuver with largest FVC
Do we measure bronchodilator reversibility or responsiveness?
Better to use the word “responsiveness” than “reversibility”, as per ATS 2019
When should BD testing be done?
- Initial diagnostic spirometry and then as needed
What is the BD withholding time for SABA?
4-6 hours
What is the BD withhold time for SAMA (eg. ipratropium)
12 hours
What is the BD withhold time for LABA (eg. formoterol, salmeterol?
24 hours (36 hours for methacholine challenge as per ERS 2017)
What is the BD withhold time for LAMA (eg. tiotropium)
36-48 hours
Does ICS need to be withheld for BD testing?
NO
Does LTRA need to be witheld for BD testing?
No
How is BD testing done?
Ventolin 100 mcg/puff x 4 doses, then wait 15 minutes
How does ATS define positive BD response?
- Does not differentiate based on age
- Increase in FEV1 or FVC by >=12% AND >= 200 mL
(This is a pure PFT interpretation of BD response)
In contrast, CTS asthma guideline just looks at FEV1 for BD response.
<12 years: >=12%
>=12 years: >=12% and >=200 mL
PFT for pulmonary vascular disease?
No obstruction
No restriction
Low DLCO
PFT for restrictive disease?
No obstruction
Low FVC and TLC
DLCO is low for ILD, pneumonitis
DLCO is normal for neuromuscular or chest wall disease
Obstruction, low DLCO, no restriction?
Emphysema
What is a moderately severe decrease in FEV1?
50-59%
What is a severe decrease in FEV1?
35-49%
What is a very severe decreased FEV1?
<35%
What are indications for spirometry?
- Diagnosis (eg. asthma)
- Monitoring (eg. CF, asthma)
- Disability/impairment evaluation (eg. monitoring as part of rehab program)
- Other (eg. research and clinical trial)
What are relative contraindications to spirometry?
Cardiac:
- Acute MI in the last week
- Uncontrolled pulmonary hypertension
- Syncope from forced exhalation or cough
- Acute cor pulmonale
- Unstable pulmonary embolism
Increased intracranial/intraocular pressure:
- Eye surgery in the last week
- Brain surgery in the last month
- Recent Concussion with ongoing symptoms
- cerebral aneurysm
Sinus and middle ear pressure:
- sinus or middle ear surgery/infection within last week
Intrathoracic/intraabdominal:
- pneumothorax
- thoracic or abdominal surgery in last month
- late term pregnancy
Infection control issues:
- TB
- Significant oral secretions or hemoptysis
Memory tool:
1 month for “big” surgeries
1 week for small surgeries like eye or ear
What is the effect of pulmonary hemorrhage on DLCO ?
Acute versus non-acute phase?
What is the anaerobic threshold?
The point at which you are in intense exercise and switch from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism–>increased lactate production, which exceeds removal. Also lots of CO2 production–>increased ventilation
Anaerobic threshold is also called ventilatory threshold
Methods for anaerobic threshold measurement?
V-slope method and ventilatory equivalence method are the best, ATS recommends using a combination of both
1) V-slope method: graph of VCO2 versus VO2. There is an abrupt increase in slope and VCO2 increases relative to VO2
2) Ventilatory equivalence: PETO2 relative to workload, PETCO2 relative to worklaod
3) VE/VCO2 relative to VO2 and VE/VCO2 relative to VO2
How does exercise increasing diffusing capacity?
Increased diffusing capacity due to recruitment and distension of vessels
Pulmonary limitation to exercise, CPET findings?
Ventilatory limitation like decreased breathing reserve, expiratory flow limitation, dynamic hyperinflation
Desaturation <88%
HR
What are signs of maximal CPET
5 things:
- RER>=1.1
- HR>90% maximum
- VO2 plateau
- Borg dyspnea>9/10
- ventilatory limitation
Indications for CPET
Categories: exercise intolerance, tolerance, pulmonary, cardiac, rehab
- evaluation of undiagnosed exercise intolerance and assessment of cardiac or pulmonary etiology
- evaluation patients with pulmonary disease to determine exercise limits and provide oxygen prescription (eg. COPD, ILD)
- pulmonary rehab for exercise prescription
- evaluation of exercise tolerance like Peak VO2
Contraindications for CPET
These are all very obvious
- Room air desaturation <85% (but >85% is not a contraindication)
- Acute MI in last 3-5 days
- Syncope
- Uncontrolled asthma
- Acute PE
- Uncontrolled arrythmia