PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS Lung function tests (also called pulmonary function tests or PFTs) evaluate how well

your lungs work. The tests determine how much air your lungs can hold, how quickly you can move air in and out of your lungs, and how well your lungs put oxygen into and remove carbon dioxide from your blood. The tests can diagnose lung diseases; measure the severity of lung problems, and check to see how well treatment for a lung disease is working. PFT are done to: 1. Diagnose certain types of lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema. 2. Find the cause of shortness of breath. 3. Measure whether exposure to contaminants at work affects lung function 4. Assess the effect of medication 5. Measure progress in disease treatment Other tests may also be done to determine lung function.

mouthpiece attached to a recording device (spirometer). The information collected by the spirometer may be printed out on a chart called a spirogram. HOW TO PERFORM INCENTIVE SPIROMETRY

1. Residual volume This measures the amount of air in

your lungs after you have exhaled completely. It can be done by breathing in helium or nitrogen gas and seeing how much is exhaled.

2. Gas diffusion tests measure the amount of oxygen

and other gases that cross the lungs' air sacs (alveoli per minute. These tests evaluate how well gases are being absorbed into your blood from your lungs. 3. Body plethysmography, may be used to measure: Total lung capacity (TLC), which is the total amount of air your lungs can hold. For this test, you sit inside a small airtight room called a plethysmograph booth and breathe through a mouthpiece while pressure and air flow measurements are collected. Residual volume (RV), which is the amount of air that remains in your lungs after you exhale as completely as possible. For this test, you sit inside the plethysmograph booth and breathe while the pressure of the booth is monitored. You may need to breathe through a mouthpiece while you are in the booth.

Sit on the edge of your bed if possible, or sit up as far as you can in bed. Hold the incentive spirometer in an upright position. Place the mouthpiece in your mouth and seal your lips tightly around it. Breathe in slowly and as deeply as possible, raising the yellow piston toward the top of the column. The yellow coach indicator should be in the blue outlined area. Hold your breath as long as possible (for at least five seconds). Allow the piston to fall to the bottom of the column. Rest for a few seconds and repeat Steps one to five at least 5 times every hour when you are awake. Position the yellow indicator on the left side of the spirometer to show your best effort. Use the indicator as a goal to work toward during each repetition. After each set of 10 deep breaths, practice coughing to be sure your lungs are clear. If you have an incision, support your incision when coughing by placing a pillow firmly against it. Once you are able to get out of bed, walk in the hallway and cough well. You may stop using the incentive spirometer unless otherwise instructed by your health care provider.

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS Asked client NOT to: 1. 2. 3. 4. Eat a heavy meal before the test Smoke for 4-6 hours before the test Take or use bronchodilators before the test Eat food or drinks that contain caffeine before the test 5. Being able to breathe normally because of pain NORMAL VALUES OF LUNG VOLUME AND LUNG CAPACITIES: Inspiratory reserve volume Tidal volume Expiratory reserve volume Residual volume Inspiratory capacity Functional residual capacity Vital capacity Total lung capacity 3100 mL 500 mL 1200 mL 1200 mL 3600 mL 2400 mL 4800 mL 6000 mL

4. Inhalation challenge tests are done to measure

the response of your airways to substances that may be causing asthma or wheezing. These tests are also called provocation studies.

5. Exercise stress tests evaluate the effect of exercise

on lung function tests. Spirometry readings are done after exercise and then again at rest. SPIROMETRY Is the first and most commonly done lung function test. It measures how much and how quickly you can move air out of your lungs. For this test, you breathe into a