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.

Return to:  Local News