PFTs

Question 1

What the effort dependant tests?

Answer 1

FEV’s / flow rates- spirometry

Question 2

What are the effort independent tests?

Answer 2

Relaxed vital capacity

Helium/N2 washout static lung volumes

Whole body plethysmography

Impulse oximetry

Exhaled breath nitric oxide

Question 3

What are the gas diffusion tests?

Answer 3

CO transfer factor
ABGs
SaO2 during exercise

Question 4

Describe PFTs in asthma

Answer 4

FVC preserved

FEV1 reduced

Question 5

Describe PFTs in COPD

Answer 5

FVC reduced

FEV1 reduced

Question 6

What causes a volume dependant flow-volume curve

Answer 6

Asthma

Chronic bronchitis

Question 7

What causes a pressure dependant flow-volume curve

Answer 7

Emphysema

Question 8

Describe bronchial challenge testing

Answer 8

Exercise
Methacholine/histamine/mannitol
-marker of airway hyperresponsiveness
-concentration to produce 20% reduction FEV1
Allergens/chemicals 
-early and late responses
-diagnosis of occupational asthma

Question 9

What is the use of of a CPET

Answer 9

Differentiate cardiac and respiratory dyspnoea

Question 10

What PFT is affected in interstitial lung disease

Answer 10

SaO2 during exercise

Question 11

What is seen in asthma exercise testing?

Answer 11

reduced FEV1 or PEF

Question 12

What causes decreased TLCO

Answer 12

anaemia, emphysema, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary oedema, Po emboli, bronchiectasis

Question 13

How is airway resistance measured?

Answer 13

Whole body plethysmography or more commonly/easily with impulse oximetry

Question 14

What does IOS measure? When is IOS used?

Answer 14

Airway resistance during quiet tidal breathing.

in kids

Question 15

What is FeNO?

Answer 15

Exhaled breath condensate.
non invasive marker of eosinophilic airway inflammation in asthma

adjunct to bronchial challenge to assess asthmatic inflammation –especially when spirometry is normal