Pulmonary Function Tests Health Article

Definition

Pulmonary function tests are a group of procedures that measure how well the lungs are functioning.

Purpose

Pulmonary function tests help a doctor to diagnose respiratory diseases and disorders such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and emphysema, and mechanical injury by measuring the degree of lung impairment. These tests are also done before major lung surgery to make sure the patient will not be disabled by having a reduced lung capacity. When performed over time, these tests are helpful in evaluating how a lung disease is progressing, and how serious the lung disease has become. They are also be used to assess how a patient is responding to different treatments.

Description

There are many types of pulmonary function tests. The most common are:

• peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) measures airflow during forced expirations
• forced vital capacity (FVC) measures the maximum amount of air exhaled after taking a deep breath
• forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) measures the amount of air that can be exhaled in one second
• maximum voluntary volume (MVV) measures the amount of air a person can breathe in and out in one minute
• total lung capacity (TLC) is the measure of the amount of air the lungs can hold
• residual volume (RV) is the amount of air left in the lungs after forced expiration
• arterial blood gas (ABG) measures the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood and gives a picture of how efficiently the lungs are functioning
• pulse oximetry measures the percentage of oxygen in the blood

With the exception of arterial blood gas, pulse oximetry, and total lung capacity, pulmonary function tests are performed using spirometry (from the Greco-Latin term meaning "to measure breathing"). Spirometry tests can be done a hospital or doctor's office. The patient places a clip over the nose and breathes through the mouth into a tube connected to a machine called a spirometer. The patient breathes in deeply, and then exhales as quickly and forcefully as possible into the tube. The machine records the volume of air that moves through the tube. The exhalation must last at least six seconds for the machine to work properly. Usually the patient repeats this test three times, and the best of the three results is considered the measure of the lung function. A similar machine called a peak flow meter may be used to measure PERF. Sometimes when airways are obstructed, the patient is given a bronchodilator, and the test is performed again.

Total lung capacity is measured by body plethysmography. The patient sits in a sealed box that resembles a telephone booth and breathes against a mouthpiece. A device measures the changes in air pressure in the box during inhalation and exhalation. From these air pressure measurements, the total capacity of the lungs can be calculated.

Arterial blood gases are measured on a blood sample that is taken from an artery. Pulse oximetry uses a sensor placed on the earlobe or fingertip to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood.

Taken together, pulmonary function tests give a good picture of how much air is moving in and out of the lungs and how efficiently oxygen is moved into the blood and carbon dioxide is moved out. Some of these tests are performed as part of a routine health screening, while others are used most often to evaluate the condition of diseased or damaged lungs.