PFTs and Asthma Flashcards
What are the indications for PFTs?
Diagnose and classify severity of pulmonary dysfunction
Distinguish between obstructive, restrictive and mixed disease
Monitor response to therapeutic interventions and progression of disease
Determine pulmonary risk prior to surgery
What are the basic PFTs?
Airflow spirometry
Lung volumes
Diffusion capacity for lungs for CO (DLCO)
Why is sitting preferred in spirometry?
Less likelihood of syncope
What is forced vital capacity?
Deep breath in and blow the air out as fast as possible with a forced expiration–total volume of air with maximal effort
What is FEF (forced expiratory flow) 25-75%?
Airflow measurement during middle half of forced expiration (nonspecific for small airway obstruction but may be an early indicator of disease)
Why is bronchodilator testing used?
Used to test reversibility
Take 2-4 puffs with chamber and hold for 5-10 sec and then spirometry completd 15 min after
When does bronchodilator testing show reversibility?
If FEV1 increased by 12% and 200 ml
What is the methacholine challenge test?
For bronchoprovocation
Dilute solution of methacholine in nebulizer
Spirometry conducted at 30 and 90 sec
Concentration increases
Positive test: FEV1 decreased by 20% (may be false +)
What do you have to confirm was achieved with PFTs?
Volume-time curve plateaus
Expiration lasts > 6 sec
2 best efforts are within .2 L
Flow vol loops are free of artifact
What is the diffusion capacity?
Measures the ability of the lungs to transfer gas and saturate Hb (alveolar-capillary membrane)
*can be misleading if person is anemia (false reduction) and must adjust for Hb level
CO used for surrogate for O2 transfer
Technique for DLCO
Pt inhales single breath of gas with helium/CO, then expires and measurement of exhalation taken
How to infer results for DLCO
Lungs are healthy- little CO collected during exhalation
Lungs diseased- less CO diffuses into lungs so higher levels are measured in exhaled gas
Results indicating obstructive disease
TLC: increased FVC: normal RV: increased FEV1: decreased FEV1/FVC: decreased Airway narrowing, limit airflow with expiration, reduced airflow with high lung vols, inspiration probs normal
Results indicating restrictive disease
TLC: decreased FVC: decreased RV: decreased FEV1: decreased FEV1/FVC: normal or increased Reduction in lung vol, reduced lung expansion, inspiration and expiration look normal with reduced flow and vol
Types of obstructive diseases
Asthma, asthmatic bronchitis, bronchitis, COPD, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, upper airway obstruction
Types of restrictive diseases
Pulmonary fibrosis, infectious lung disease, thoracic deformities, pleural effusion, tumors, neuromuscular diseases, obesity
How to examine a flow-volume curve (step 1)
If looks normal
Is the curve scooped out (obstructive)
Is the slope increased/peaked (restrictive)
How to examine FEV-1 value and lung vols (step 2)
Normal- r/o obstruction and restriction
Decreased by more than 15-20% of predicted– obstruction