|
Home
New Document
|
|
| What are
Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)? |
| |
 |
PFTs are a group of procedures that measure the function of the lungs and may provide the diagnosis in many common lung conditions. Individuals with chronic cough, breathlessness, wheeze and exercise induced symptoms may benefit from these tests.
They can be used to confirm the diagnosis and track the progress of the following disorders: asthma, chronic bronchitis (tasis, cystic fibrosis & pulmonary fibrosis. They enable clinicians to assess an individual’s response to a given therapy. They are frequently requested by anaesthetists as part of pre-operative assessment of individuals undergoing major surgery. They may also be used in healthy individuals who undergo routine health-checks and for those undergoing pre-employment screening.
|
|
A
L
L
E
R
G
Y
C
O
U
N
T
S |
| How they are done ?
|
| |
 |
|
|
The tests are done in a clinic setting on patients who are stable.
Patients taking bronchodilator medication (Atrovent, Bricanyl, Oxis, Salamol, Serevent, Seretide, Spriva, Symbicort & Ventolin,) should, if possible, stop these inhalers the night before the test. The subject wears a nose-clip and performs a series of breathing manoeuvres under the instruction of an accredited pulmonary function technician/ therapist. |
|
|
| Are there any side effects?
|
| |
The tests are easy to perform, safe and well tolerated. Some people find that wearing a nose clip is uncomfortable, others, particularly very young or elderly people, find the breathing manoeuvres difficult to perform. Occasionally inhaled bronchodilators may cause transient perceptible increases in the heart rate, but this soon passes.
back |
|
| When will the result be ready?
|
|
| |
Results will be generated by computer immediately after the test, however it is mandatory that they be reviewed by a pulmonary specialist who will then issue a report, which is then forwarded to you and your doctor within 2 days.
back |
|
| Standard Tests Available
|
|
| |
- Spirometry, flow-volume loop, bronchodilator response – enables diagnosis of asthma
- Lung volumes – measured by nitrogen washout- required to detect hyperinflation of the lungs and to diagnose with reliability a restrictive lung defect.
- Diffusion factor – measure by single breath of carbon monoxide- indicates the efficiency of gas exchange across the air sacs.
- Oximetry- indirect method for measuring oxygen in the bloodstream.
- Exhaled nitric oxide – chemiluminescence analyser- produced by eosinophils with the bronchial tubes – may be diagnostic of asthma and permits the tracking of airway inflammation.
- Airways resistance by Rint – useful in preschool children who will not co-operate with standard breathing manoeuvres. Bronchodilator response can be assessed.
- Carbon monoxide measurement- for compliance with smoking cessation programmes.
 |
The figure to the left gives an illustration of the types of abnormality that may be apparent on spirometry. |
|
By special request the following tests can be arranged:
Exercise or methacholine bronchial provocation: sometimes asthma cannot be diagnosed with standard tests alone and it becomes necessary to provoke minor asthma changes in a medically controlled environment which can subsequently be reversed or treated with asthma medication.
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing: for athletes or those with dyspnoea of unknown origin, V02max is a measure of aerobic fitness.
|
back |
|
|
Cost?
|
|
| |
Cost of PFT €160 +insurance VHI BUPA VIVAS or Other.
Time ----One hour.
back |
|
|
