ABSTRACT
Pulmonary function testing is used in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) and the staging of COPD severity. The current diagnostic criterion
for airflow obstruction is a ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) < 70%. However this absolute definition can lead
to false-negative determinations in younger patients and false-positive determinations
in the elderly. Nevertheless, screening spirometry is advocated and becomes feasible
in the physician office setting with the availability of compact, relatively affordable
apparatus that meets the appropriate technical specifications. Spirometry should be
complemented by measurement of lung volumes using body plethysmography in those with
evidence of airflow obstruction. Small airways disease can be detected by various
techniques that measure airway and total respiratory system resistance. There is renewed
interest in the forced oscillation technique and impulse oscillometry because of their
noninvasiveness and potential ability to distinguish small from larger airway disease.
Finally, pulmonary function testing has an important role in preoperative risk assessment;
for example, in patients being considered for lung volume reduction surgery or resection
of a lung nodule.
KEYWORDS
Pulmonary function testing - COPD - screening spirometry - body plethysmography -
impulse oscillometry - preoperative assessment
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Christopher B CooperM.D.
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10833 Le Conte Ave.
37-131 CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1690
Email: ccooper@mednet.ucla.edu