The Tools of the Trade – Physiological Measurements of the Lungs

Abstract

Pulmonary function assessment plays an integral part in the clinical management of school-aged children with respiratory disease. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are being increasingly applied in infants and preschool children too, albeit only in specialised centres. PFTs, when performed and interpreted accurately, provide objective outcome measures which can be used clinically to guide management, for prognostic purposes and in epidemiological research studies. They can be used to determine the nature and severity of lung disease, to ascertain response to treatment and to monitor disease progression. PFTs are rarely diagnostic in their own right with the exception of asthma, but are valuable adjuncts and before clinicians select a PFT they must know what the results are likely to be in the disease being considered. Spirometry and tests of airway calibre and function are the most widely used PFTs, as diseases in children commonly affect airway function. As such, spirometry should be a standard part of the assessment of school-age children who present to the pediatrician with chronic respiratory symptoms. This review will provide a bird's eye view of currently available PFTs in children to assist in the diagnosis and management of respiratory disorders.

Curvilinearity of a Maximum Expiratory Flow-Volume Curve: A Useful Indicator for Assessing Airway Obstruction in Children With Asthma

“…2 Spirometry is the most common lung function test available, is used extensively in both clinical practice and research studies, and is the most sensitive method to assess narrowing of the airways, which occurs in asthma and bronchiectasis. 3 The American Thoracic Society/European Thoracic Society reissued equipment specifications and standardized guidelines in 2005. 4 Pulmonary function assessment is an integral part of the clinical management of children with respiratory disease, and spirometry should be a standard part of the assessment of children who present to a pediatrician with chronic respiratory symptoms.…”

“…4 Pulmonary function assessment is an integral part of the clinical management of children with respiratory disease, and spirometry should be a standard part of the assessment of children who present to a pediatrician with chronic respiratory symptoms. 3 Routine pulmonary function testing (PFT) is a simple but important procedure used to detect air-flow limitation. 5 Air-flow obstruction is indicated by a reduction in both values of the FEV 1 /FVC% relative to reference or predicted values 6 and is usually characterized by a gradual curvilinear decrease in flow after the peak expiratory flow (PEF).…”

Editorial: Advances in Pediatric Pulmonology

“…She describes methods to be used for assessment of airway resistance in various obstructive airway diseases, measurement of lung volumes, measurement of gas exchange and exercise testing. The article gives valuable guidance on which test to use and how to interpret the results [1].…”