Spirometry
Spirometry is the most common of the pulmonary function tests, which measures the lung capacity and airway patency (volume and speed of air) during quiet and forced breathing.
Indications:
- to detect or verify bronchopulmonary system diseases: chronic obstructive lung disease, bronchial asthma, etc.
- episodes of shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing;
- to stage an identified lung disease;
- significant smoking history;
- to evaluate the risk of a surgery;
- to assess the prognosis of a disease.
Preparation:
- a patient should not smoke at least 2 hours before the test
- the test can be performed not earlier than 7 days after bronchoscopy.
Contra-indications:
- A patient has an acute infectious diseases.
- A patient has suffered injuries and diseases of the oral and maxillofacial complex.
- A patient has a tracheostomy tube.
- A patient cannot make the maximum respiratory effort (for example, in cases of myasthenia gravis, fractured ribs, severe pulmonary heart disease).