WJJQ LOCAL NEWS
New Pulmonary Function Testing unit at Sacred
Heart
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Ministry
Sacred Heart Hospital has installed a new pulmonary function testing unit
described as the gold standard of lung testing.
The Jaeger MasterScreen Body Pulmonary Function unit measures lung
function parameters and can detect a response to bronchodialotor
therapy.
Pulmonary Function Tests or
PFTs are a series of breathing maneuvers that allow for measurement of lung
volumes and flows, as well as how effectively the lungs are able to exchange
gases with the blood. Airway resistance, which is opposition to flow, can
also be measured. PFT results, in addition to other diagnostic tools used
by doctors, can help in diagnosing certain lung diseases such as COPD, asthma,
chronic bronchitis, and emphysema.
Patients will be asked to
sit in the MasterScreen Body unit where they will
breathe through a mouthpiece connected to the measuring unit with a nose clip
ensuring all flows are measured through the mouth. The Respiratory
Therapist will coach each patient through different breathing maneuvers and
some tests may be repeated after the administration of a bronchodilator.
A complete PFT may take up to an hour.
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