Pulmonary Functions Testing

Question 1

True or False: PFT’s are used to evaluate the signs, symptoms, and progression of lung disease.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

True or False: PFT’s can be used to monitor the effectiveness of therapy

Answer 2

True

Question 3

True or False: PFT’s can be used to evaluate pre-op patients.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

True or False: PFT’s are useful in screening at-risk populations.

Answer 4

True

Question 5

True or False: PFT’s can be used to monitor for potentially toxic effects of drugs.

Answer 5

True

Question 6

Name two contraindications for PFT’s.

Answer 6

• no symptoms

- may be confusing if pts have non-pulm diseases that affect pulm system

Question 7

What is spirometry?

Answer 7

• measurement of air moving in and out of the lungs during various respiratory maneuvers
• determines how much air can be inhaled and exhaled, and how fast

Question 8

What is diffusing capacity?

Answer 8

-measurement of the ability of the lungs to transfer gas

Question 9

True or False: anemia decreases the diffusing capacity

Answer 9

True

Question 10

True or False: emphysema decreases the diffusing capacity

Answer 10

True

Question 11

What gas is used for testing diffusing capacity and why?

Answer 11

carbon monoxide b/c it’s more soluble in blood than in lung tissue

Question 12

True or False: residual volume can be measured with spirometry

Answer 12

False

Question 13

Name two ways of measuring residual volume.

Answer 13

• pt breathes an inert gas (ex: He) and [He] in the exhaled gas is measured and used to calculate RV
• pt sits and breathes in an airtight chamber and the P is measured

Question 14

What might an increased residual volume indicate?

Answer 14

air trapping in an obstructive disease