Pulmonary Function Tests Flashcards

1
Q

List some indications for PFTs

A
  • to assess disease in a pt with risk factors
  • to evaluate symptoms in chronic disease
  • to assess bronchodilator therapy effectiveness
  • to assess effects of occupational exposure
  • to assess risk prior to surgery (upper abdominal or thoracic)
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2
Q

List a few contraindications to PFTs

A
  • severe debilitation
  • mod-severe resp disease
  • pt not able/willing to provide full effort
  • young kids (less than 5)
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3
Q

What does a PFT tell you

A
  • if there is lung pathology
  • severity of lung dysfunction
  • is a treatment working
  • has a disease progressed
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4
Q

List a few things that a PFT can help diagnose

A
  • asthma
  • COPD
  • differentiate obstructive vs restrictive patterns
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5
Q

Define an obstructive pattern

A

difficulty getting air out of the resp system (typically occurs in smaller airways)
- FBA, tumor, chronic mucus, CF, airway thickening, etc

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6
Q

Define a restrictive pattern

A

volume capacity and difficulty getting air in
- ILD, stiff chest, resp muscle weakness

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7
Q

What is pulse oximetry for

A

asses available oxyhemoglobin in a patient

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8
Q

What does a peak flow meter do

A

helps define the capacity to expel air from the lungs
- measures maximum speed of expiration
- can be used by pt, usually to follow asthma triggers

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9
Q

Define total lung capacity

A

volume of lung for all phases of respiration

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10
Q

Define tidal volume

A

lung volume representing the normal volume of air displaced between normal resting inhalation/exhalation

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11
Q

Define reserve volume

A

additional air that can be forcibly inhaled or exhaled after normal tidal volume

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12
Q

define residual volume

A

amount of air remaining in the lungs after full expiration (can’t be directly measured)

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13
Q

define vital capacity

A

amount of air that can be forcibly inhaled and exhaled

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14
Q

Define Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV1)

A

max volume of air that can be exhaled in the first second of a forced exhalation following inspiration (expressed in liters)

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15
Q

Define FEV1/FVC

A

calculated ratio that helps differentiate obstructive and restrictive patterns

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16
Q

Define forced vital capacity

A

total volume of gas that can be forcefully exhaled after a full inspiration (liters/second)

17
Q

Define spirometry

A
  • measures exhaled/inhaled volumes
  • follow effectiveness of asthma/COPD management
18
Q

What is normal FVC

A

> 80%

19
Q

What FVC shows a restrictive pattern

A

<80%

can be reduced by suboptimal pt effort, airflow limitation, neuromuscular process, restrictive lung dz

20
Q

what is the most important spirometry variable for assessing severity of disease

A

FEV1

21
Q

What is the normal FEV1/FVC ratio for adults vs kids

A

Adults: >70%

Kids: >85%

22
Q

What FEV1/FVC ratio indicates an obstructive pattern

A

<70%

23
Q

what is this pattern

A

normal

24
Q

what is this pattern

A

obstructive

25
Q

What is this pattern

A

fixed obstruction (chest wall injury)

26
Q

What is this pattern

A

variable extrathoracic

27
Q

What is this pattern

A

variable intrathoracic (pneumothorax)

28
Q

what is this pattern

A

restrictive

29
Q

define diffusing capacity (DLCO)

A
  • measure of a single breath to evaluate obstruction/restriction severity
  • low DLCO indicates oxygen therapy
  • IP or occupational
  • not used in COPD following
30
Q

What is a normal DLCO measure

A

20-30 ml/mn/mmHg

31
Q

What may a low DLCO indicate

A
  • emphysema
  • bronchiectasis
  • ILD
  • pulmonary vascular disease
  • neuromuscular dz
32
Q

What does a high DLCO indicate

A
  • polycythemia
  • pulmonary hemorrhage
  • exercise, L to R cardiac shunting
  • maybe asthma, bronchitis, obesity
33
Q

An increase in FEV1 by more than what indicates a reversible pattern when given a bronchodilator

A

12%