Pulmonary Function Tests

Question 1

What is measured during a pulmonary function test?

Answer 1

volume or flow of air during inhale and exhale which includes measurements of forced vital capacity (FVC) peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volme in first second (FEV1) and mid-expiratory flow (FEF 25-75%)

Question 2

How do you conduct a Pulmonary Function Test?

Answer 2

• subject exhales into a spirometer as hard and as fast as possible for 6 seconds until no more air can be expelled
• needs 3 acceptable trials

Question 3

What measurement would be the primary indicator of an obstructive impairment?

Answer 3

FEV1/FVC being below 70%

Question 4

What percentage of FEV1/FVC is considered a mild obstruction?

Answer 4

70-99%

Question 5

What percentage of FEV1/FVC is considered a moderate obstruction?

Answer 5

60-70%

Question 6

What percentage of FEV1/FVC is considered a moderate to severe obstruction?

Answer 6

50-60%

Question 7

What percentage of FEV1/FVC is considered a severe obstruction?

Answer 7

less than 50%

Question 8

How are restrictive ventilatory impairments inferred from spirometry?

Answer 8

when FVC is reduced and FEV1/FVC is normal or above 80%

Question 9

What characterizes a restrictive ventilatory impairment?

Answer 9

reduced lung volumes and relatively normal expiratory flow rates