Pulmonary Function Tests Pulmonary Function Tests Marcus A. Nesbeth PA-C June 19, 2009

Anatomy Lungs comprised of Lungs comprised of Airways Airways Alveoli Alveoli

The Alveoli Approximately 300 million alveoli Approximately 300 million alveoli 1/3 mm diameter 1/3 mm diameter Total surface area if they were complete spheres 85 sq. meters (size of a tennis court) Total surface area if they were complete spheres 85 sq. meters (size of a tennis court) Murray & Nadel: Textbook of Respiratory Medicine, 3rd ed., Copyright © 2000 W. B. Saunders Company

Lung Volumes IRV TV ERV 4 Volumes 4 Volumes 4 Capacities 4 Capacities Sum of 2 or more lung volumes Sum of 2 or more lung volumes RV IC FRC VC TLC RV

Tidal Volume (TV) IRV TV ERV RV IC FRC VC TLC RV Volume of air inspired and expired during normal quiet breathing Volume of air inspired and expired during normal quiet breathing

Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV) IRV TV ERV The maximum amount of air that can be inhaled after a normal tidal volume inspiration The maximum amount of air that can be inhaled after a normal tidal volume inspiration RV IC FRC VC TLC RV

Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV) IRV TV ERV Maximum amount of air that can be exhaled from the resting expiratory level Maximum amount of air that can be exhaled from the resting expiratory level RV IC FRC VC TLC RV

Residual Volume (RV) IRV TV ERV Volume of air remaining in the lungs at the end of maximum expiration Volume of air remaining in the lungs at the end of maximum expiration RV IC FRC VC TLC RV

Vital Capacity (VC) IRV TV ERV Volume of air that can be exhaled from the lungs after a maximum inspiration Volume of air that can be exhaled from the lungs after a maximum inspiration FVC: when VC exhaled forcefully FVC: when VC exhaled forcefully VC = IRV + TV + ERV VC = IRV + TV + ERV RV IC FRC VC TLC RV

Inspiratory Capacity (IC) IRV TV ERV Maximum amount of air that can be inhaled from the end of a tidal volume Maximum amount of air that can be inhaled from the end of a tidal volume IC = IRV + TV IC = IRV + TV RV IC FRC VC TLC RV

Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) IRV TV ERV Volume of air remaining in the lungs at the end of a TV expiration Volume of air remaining in the lungs at the end of a TV expiration FRC = ERV + RV FRC = ERV + RV RV IC FRC VC TLC RV

Total Lung Capacity (TLC) IRV TV ERV Volume of air in the lungs after a maximum inspiration Volume of air in the lungs after a maximum inspiration TLC = IRV + TV + ERV + RV TLC = IRV + TV + ERV + RV RV IC FRC VC TLC RV

Pulmonary Function Tests Evaluates 1 or more major aspects of the respiratory system Evaluates 1 or more major aspects of the respiratory system Lung volumes Lung volumes Airway function Airway function Gas exchange Gas exchange

Spirometry Measurement of the pattern of air movement into and out of the lungs during controlled ventilatory maneuvers. Measurement of the pattern of air movement into and out of the lungs during controlled ventilatory maneuvers. Often done as a maximal expiratory maneuver Often done as a maximal expiratory maneuver

Indications Detect disease Detect disease Evaluate extent and monitor course of disease Evaluate extent and monitor course of disease Evaluate treatment Evaluate treatment Measure effects of exposures Measure effects of exposures Assess risk for surgical procedures Assess risk for surgical procedures Assess prognosis for lung disease Assess prognosis for lung disease Abnl results of Dx’ic tests: hypoxemia, hypercapnia, polycythemia, abnl CXR. Abnl results of Dx’ic tests: hypoxemia, hypercapnia, polycythemia, abnl CXR.

Contraindications Severe debilitation and excessive tiring (pts who cannot expend effort for testing). Severe debilitation and excessive tiring (pts who cannot expend effort for testing). Severe or moderately severe respiratory distress. Severe or moderately severe respiratory distress. Pts. not motivated or desiring to take the test. Pts. not motivated or desiring to take the test. Acute severe asthma, angina aggravated by testing, active TB, pneumothorax, ongoing hemoptysis. Acute severe asthma, angina aggravated by testing, active TB, pneumothorax, ongoing hemoptysis.

Equipment PFT machine/Spirometer PFT machine/Spirometer Comfortable chair and private area of office for testing ( avoids pt embarrassment) Comfortable chair and private area of office for testing ( avoids pt embarrassment) Nose clips ( to prevent air leaks) Nose clips ( to prevent air leaks) Various inhalants/bronchodiliators (if indicated ). Various inhalants/bronchodiliators (if indicated ).

Importance Patients and physicians have inaccurate perceptions of severity of airflow obstruction and/or severity of lung disease by physical exam Patients and physicians have inaccurate perceptions of severity of airflow obstruction and/or severity of lung disease by physical exam Provides objective evidence in identifying patterns of disease Provides objective evidence in identifying patterns of disease

Factors That Affect Lung Volumes Age Age Sex Sex Height Height Weight Weight Race Race Disease Disease

Technique Have patient seated comfortably Have patient seated comfortably Closed-circuit technique Closed-circuit technique Place nose clip on Place nose clip on Have patient take a deep breath as fast as possible Have patient take a deep breath as fast as possible Have patient breathe on mouthpiece Have patient breathe on mouthpiece Blow out as hard as they can until you tell them to stop Blow out as hard as they can until you tell them to stop

Terminology Forced vital capacity (FVC): Forced vital capacity (FVC): Total volume of air that can be exhaled forcefully after full inspiration. The majority of FVC can be exhaled in <3 seconds in normal people, but often is much more prolonged in obstructive diseases Measured in liters (L)

FVC Interpretation of % predicted: Interpretation of % predicted: %Normal %Normal 70-79%Mild reduction 70-79%Mild reduction 50%-69%Moderate reduction 50%-69%Moderate reduction <50%Severe reduction <50%Severe reduction

Terminology Forced expiratory volume in 1 second: (FEV 1 ) Forced expiratory volume in 1 second: (FEV 1 ) Volume of air forcefully expired from full inspiration (TLC) in the first second. Measured in liters (L) Normal people can exhale more than 75-80% of their FVC in the first second; thus the FEV1/FVC can be utilized to characterize lung disease.

FEV 1 Interpretation of % predicted: Interpretation of % predicted: >75%Normal >75%Normal 60%-75%Mild obstruction 60%-75%Mild obstruction 50-59%Moderate obstruction 50-59%Moderate obstruction <49%Severe obstruction <49%Severe obstruction

Acceptability Criteria Good start of test Good start of test No coughing No coughing No variable flow No variable flow No early termination No early termination Reproducibility Reproducibility

Flow-Volume Loop Illustrates maximum expiratory and inspiratory flow- volume curves Illustrates maximum expiratory and inspiratory flow- volume curves Useful to help characterize disease states (e.g. obstructive vs. restrictive) Useful to help characterize disease states (e.g. obstructive vs. restrictive) Ruppel GL. Manual of Pulmonary Function Testing, 8 th ed., Mosby 2003

Categories of Disease Obstructive Obstructive Restrictive Restrictive Mixed Mixed

Obstructive Disorders Characterized by a limitation of expiratory airflow Characterized by a limitation of expiratory airflow Examples: asthma, COPD Decreased: FEV 1, FEV 1 /FVC ratio (<0.8) Decreased: FEV 1, FEV 1 /FVC ratio (<0.8) Increased or Normal: TLC Increased or Normal: TLC

Spirometry in Obstructive Disease Slow rise in upstroke Slow rise in upstroke May not reach plateau May not reach plateau

Restrictive Lung Disease Characterized by diminished lung volume due to: Characterized by diminished lung volume due to: change in alteration in lung parenchyma (interstitial lung disease) disease of pleura, chest wall (e.g. scoliosis), or neuromuscular apparatus (e.g. muscular dystrophy) Decreased TLC, FVC Decreased TLC, FVC Normal or increased: FEV 1 /FVC ratio Normal or increased: FEV 1 /FVC ratio

Restrictive Disease Rapid upstroke as in normal spirometry Rapid upstroke as in normal spirometry Plateau volume is low Plateau volume is low

Large Airway Obstruction Characterized by a truncated inspiratory or expiratory loop Characterized by a truncated inspiratory or expiratory loop

Changes in Lung Volumes in Various Disease States Ruppel GL. Manual of Pulmonary Function Testing, 8 th ed., Mosby 2003