Spirometry testing

Question 1

What are the main points that need to be done for preparation?

Answer 1

-Referral
-Equipment
-Patient

Question 2

What has be included in the referral form?

Answer 2

-Patient demographics (ID)
-Brief clinical details (indications, why we are doing test)
-Infection risk (vulnerable or carry infection?)
-Signature of requesting physician (legally, very important with drugs)

Question 3

What equipment is needed?

Answer 3

-Spirometer
-Cunsumables (mouthpiece and bacteria and viral filter- reduce infectious risk)
-nose clips
-room thermometer

Question 4

What do you need to do to prepare the equipment?

Answer 4

-make sure machine is in working order
-cunsumables are prepared and ready to use
-calibration checked (working accurately within time scale)
-room temp recorded.

Question 5

Why does room temp have to be recorded?

Answer 5

Charles law- as temp increases, volume increases (different measures of volume).

Question 6

What are things patients are told to do prior to the appointment?

Answer 6

-not smoke for 24 hours
-not drink alcohol for 4 hours before
-stop exercising 30 mins before
-dont eat large meal 2 hours before
-dont use bronchodilators 4-6 hours before (can interfere)

Question 7

What needs to be included in introduction to the patient?

Answer 7

-your name, purpose of appointment, what the test will involve, obtain verbal consent

Question 8

What needs to be included for patient ID?

Answer 8

-check referral, confirm details (name, DOB and hospital ID)

Question 9

What are contraindications?

Answer 9

Can determine whether test goes forward or not, check with senior member of staff.

Question 10

What are absolute contraindications?

Answer 10

These are when the test can’t go ahead.

Question 11

What are relative contraindications?

Answer 11

These are assessed as to how important the test results are (need this to determine something else).

Question 12

What are the outlined contraindications?

Answer 12

-unstable CV status (heart attack)
-haemoptysis (coughing up blood)
-infectious disease (TB)
-pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
-pulmonary emboli (blood clot in lungs- dont want to dislodge)
-recent surgery on thorax or abdomen
-aneurysms
-recent eye surgery
-acute disease process (nausea, vomiting)
-extreme breathlessness or patient non-compliance

Question 13

What effect does spirometry have on pressures?

Answer 13

Rise in intra-thoracic, intra-abdominal and intra- ocular pressures.

Question 14

When can you test again if patient has an adverse reaction?

Answer 14

On a separate occasion, advise performing FEV1 not FVC (using relaxed method).