Pulmonary Function Tests

Question 1

Is mucus hypersecretion obstructive or restrictive?

Answer 1

obstructive

Question 2

What does it mean if someone is emphysemic?

Answer 2

Emphysema is a lung condition that causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the air sacs in the lungs (alveoli) are damaged. Over time, the inner walls of the air sacs weaken and rupture — creating larger air spaces instead of many small ones

• break down tissue

Question 3

is COPs more compliant or elastant?

Answer 3

It is more compliant but has less elastance

Question 4

What are restrictive disorders?

Answer 4

disorders that restrict the ability for the lungs to fill
- extra-airway diseases

Question 5

What are obstructive disorders?

Answer 5

disorders associated with obstructed airflow
- airway diseases

Question 6

What can be used to measure the peak expiratory flow rate (L/min)

Answer 6

peak flow meter

Question 7

What is FVC?

Answer 7

forced vital capacity

Question 8

What is FEV1?

Answer 8

forced expired volume in 1 second

Question 9

What is the protocol to use peak flow meters to make volume time curves?

Answer 9

1) Patient wears noseclip
2) Patient inhales steadily to TLC
3) Patient wraps lips round mouthpiece
4) Patient exhales as hard and fast as possible
5) Exhalation continues until RV is reached
6) Visually inspect performance and volume time
curve and repeat if necessary. Look out for:
a) Inconsistencies with clinical picture
b) Interrupted flow data

Question 10

What is the normal FEV/FVC ratio, and what is it in obstructive and restrictive diseases?

Answer 10

Calculating the FEV1/FVC ratio

Normal 4.3/5.1= 84%
Restrictive 3.3/3.3= 100%
Obstructive 1.0/1.9= 53%

so obstructive is lower, restrictive is higher

Question 11

In the flow-volume loop, when does A-F occur in the steps of using a peak flow meter?

Answer 11

Question 12

What do the flow volume loops look like for mild obstructive, severe obstructive and restrictive diseases?

Answer 12

Question 13

What is left and right displacement dependent on in flow volume loops?

Answer 13

x-axis direction

Question 14

What does an extra-thoracic obstruction cause?

Answer 14

decreased inspiration, bluntening
normal expiration

Due to pressure gradient

Question 15

What does intrathoracic obstruction cause?

Answer 15

expiratory bluntening

Question 16

What does the flow-volume loop of a
- variable extrathoracic obstruction
- variable intrathoracic obstruction
- fixed airway obstruction
look like?

Answer 16

Question 17

What are pulmonary function tests useful for?

Answer 17

in the diagnosis, management and evaluation of lung diseases

Question 18

What are obstructive diseases associated with?

Answer 18

impaired airflow in the airways (e.g., COPD and asthma)

Question 19

What are restrictive diseases associated with?

Answer 19

limitation of chest expansion and the causes are usually extra-airway (e.g., pulmonary fibrosis, chest burns, obesity)

Question 20

What affects the propensity of airways collapsing during expiration?

Answer 20

pressures in the airway, pleural space combined with mechanical properties

Question 21

What is PERF?

Answer 21

gradient of the line in the volume-time spirometry

Question 22

What is the FVC in a volume-loop spirometry?

Answer 22

width of loop

Question 23

What is FEV1 in a flow-volume loop?

Answer 23

volume indicated by separate marker

Question 24

What is PERF in a flow-volume loop?

Answer 24

highest point of upper portion of loop