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5.1.8 - Lung Function Testing

from Section 5.1 - Practical Respiratory System

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 July 2023

Ned Gilbert-Kawai
Affiliation:
The Royal Liverpool Hospital
Debashish Dutta
Affiliation:
Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, Harlow
Carl Waldmann
Affiliation:
Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading
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Summary

Key Learning Points

  1. 1. Lung function testing is important in the diagnosis, severity assessment and monitoring of lung diseases.

  2. 2. Spirometry measures forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC ratio. Its uses include: screening for airflow limitation, assessing disease progression and diagnostic purposes (in combination with further lung function testing).

  3. 3. Lung volume measurements provide additional information to help differentiate restrictive, obstructive and mixed lung diseases.

  4. 4. Transfer factor for carbon monoxide (TLCO) (diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO)) measures the ability of the lungs to transfer inhaled gas from the alveoli to red blood cells in the pulmonary capillaries. It can be used alongside the carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (KCO) for diagnostic purposes and to monitor disease progression.

  5. 5. Lung function testing is subject to a number of limitations and, as such, should be interpreted with flow–volume loops and clinical context.

Type
Chapter
Information
Intensive Care Medicine
The Essential Guide
, pp. 555 - 560
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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References

References and Further Reading

Cooper, BG. An update on contraindications for lung function testing. Thorax 2011;66:714–23.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). goldcopd.orgGoogle Scholar
Miller, MR, Hankinson, J, Brusasko, V, et al. Standardisation of spirometry. Eur Respir J 2005;26:319–38.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pellegrino, R, Viegi, G, Brusasco, V, et al. Interpretive strategies for lung function tests. Eur Respir J 2005;26:948–68.Google Scholar
Shiner, RJ, Steier, J. Lung Function Tests Made Easy. Edinburgh: Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone; 2013.Google Scholar

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