?Conduct spirometry tests and make calculations from raw test results.
?Interpret results in light of published norms.
?Basic spirometry and terminology
?Tidal volume (TV): volume of air inhaled or exhaled in one normal breath.
?Inspiratory reserve volume (IRV): maximal amount of air that can be inhaled following a normal inhalation.
?Expiratory reserve volume (ERV): maximal volume of air that can be exhaled following a normal exhalation.
?Inspiratory Capacity (IC): maximal amount of air a subject can inhale following a normal exhalation.
?Vital capacity (VC): maximal amount of air that a subject can exhale after a maximal inhalation.
?Volumes not easily measured with spirometer
?Residual volume (RV): volume of air remaining in lungs after maximal inhalation.
?Functional residual capacity (FRC): volume of air left in lungs after a normal exhalation.
?Total lung capacity (TLC): total volume of air the lungs can hold.
?Calculated forced volumes and flows
?Forced vital capacity (FVC): total volume of air expired after a maximal inhalation when the subject is attempting to exhale as rapidly and forcefully as possible. In healthy subject, FVC = SVC.
?Forced expiratory volume - one second (FEV1.0): the amount of air exhaled in the first one second of FVC maneuver.
?Forced expiratory flow from 25-75% (FEF25-75) or Maximal Mid-Expiratory Flow (MMEF): the flow rate during the middle 50% of the FVC maneuver (from 25% to 75% of expired volume).
?Maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV): the maximal amount of air that a person can breathe in or out in a short period of time - usually 10, 12, or 15 seconds.
Use of Data:
?Deviations from normal indicators of pulmonary disease
?Asthma - constriction - restricts flow
?Emphysema - destruction of alveoli and trapping of air - inability to rapidly exhale and increase in residual volume.
?Smoking and air pollution effects on lungs
?Residual volume important in body composition measurements.
?FEV, FEV1.0, best predictors of disease.
?FEV/FEV1.0 also used to detect disease
?MVV sometimes used to evaluate respiratory muscle weakness.
Pulmonary Function Issues Related to Measured Values:
?Overinflation of Lungs
?Emphysema - COPD - Permanently
?Asthma - Acutely
?? RV + Ratio RV/TLC
?FEV1/ FVC ratio falls below 80% - Also flow rates fall
? With age (lungs less compliant)
? Falls with obstructive diseases; e.g. asthma/bronchitis
?Asthma - obstructive disease ? increased collapsing force of large airways
? obstruction to expiratory flow ? lung volume
? bronchodilators may return flow to normal
?Early COPD - characterized by irreversible ? in small airway resistance that reduces expiratory flow
? not very responsive to dilators
?Severe COPD - ? small & large airway resist
? severe flow limitations ? bronchodilators ? little help
? chronic bronchitis and emphysema
?Emphysema - loss of elastic recoil ? ? small airway collapse during expiration, thereby ? resistance
? Max Expiratory Flow ?
? Bronchodilators have no effect
? ? FRC + TLC
Training:
?In general, lung volumes and capacities ? little with training. VC may ? slightly. TLC doesn't change much, slightly ? possible
?MVV may ? considerably
?Due to ? TV and ? rate of respiration
Procedure Notes:
?Conversion to Body Temperature Pressure Saturated (BTPS)
?Body Temp ? 37o C
?Saturation with water vapor = 100%
?All pulmonary function values reported in BTPS, but measurements taken at Ambient Temperature Pressure Saturated (ATPS)
?Conversion (Ref: CCJ, p. 50)
VBTPS = VATPS * BTPSCF
Where:
BTPSCF = TB(?C) + 273 X PB ? PH2O at room temp
TR(?C) +273 PB ? PH2O at body temp
TB = body temp in degrees Celsius (? 37? C)
TR = room (or spirometer) temp in degrees Celsius
273 = factor to convert Celsius to Kelvin
PB = barometric pressure
PH2O = water vapor pressure at room and body temp (CCJ,p. 50)
?FRC by Nitrogen Washout - Breathing Pure Oxygen (Source: West, Respiratory Physiology, pp. 146-147)
?General Formula
V1 * C1 = (V1 * C3) + (V2 * C2)
Where:V1 = Lung Volume
V2 = Volume of gas exhaled over washout procedure
C1 = [N2] in lungs before washout (atmospheric ? 80%)
C2 = [N2] of exhaled gas over washout ([N2] in V2)
C3 = [N2] left in lungs after washout measured at
end-expiration
?Solve for unknown V1:
(V1 * C1) - (V1 * C3) = V2 * C2
V1 * (C1 - C3) = V2 * C2
V1 = V2 * C2)
C1 ? C3
Remember general constants given for atmospheric air:
? Pb at sea level = 760 mm Hg
? FIO2 = 0.2093 (or 20.93%)
? FICO2 = 0.0004 (or 0.04%)
? FIN2 = 0.7903 (or 79.03%)
? ?PIO2 = 0.2093 x 760 = 159 mm Hg
? PICO2 = 0.0004 x 760 = 0.3 mm Hg
? PIN2 = 0.7903 x 760 = 600 mm Hg
Assumption: since atmosphere is composed almost entirely of N2, O2, and CO2, then: