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| Pulmonary Function Testing |
| Pulmonary function testing (PFTs) measures how well you are breathing. There are different types of breathing tests that can be done during pulmonary function testing. They include spirometry, lung volumes and diffusion capacity . Spirometry can show how much air you can breathe in and out. It also shows how fast you can breathe in and out. Lung volumes can provide further information about how your lungs are functioning. Diffusion capacity can show how well your lungs move oxygen from the lungs to the blood. The results of PFTs can help us find the best treatment plan for you. |
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| What is done during the routine pulmonary function test? |
| You will do a number of breathing tests. The registered respiratory therapist (RRT) will explain what you need to do during each test. A good effort during the testing is important to get good results. The RRT will coach you during each test to help you give a good effort. If you have questions during the tests, please ask the RRT. |
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| You may be asked to sit in a Plexiglas booth for some of the testing. This booth is called a body box or plethysmograph. You will do different breathing techniques, blowing into a tube, while in the booth. Each breathing technique is often repeated to make sure the test is reliable. |
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| You may also inhale a quick-relief medicine. If you inhale the medicine the breathing tests will be repeated after the medicine so we can see what breathing changes you have in response to the medicine. |
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| How do you get ready for the test? |
| Please follow these directions when getting ready for this test. These medicines will affect the results of some of these tests and need to be stopped before the testing is done. If the medicine is not stopped before the test we will not be able to accurately complete the test. |
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- If able, stop this inhaled medicine for 7 days before your appointment:
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- If able, stop these inhaled medicines for 48 hours before your appointment:
- Advair® (Serevent® and Flovent®)
- Serevent® (Salmeterol)
- Symbicort® (Pulmicort® and Foadil®)
- Foradil® (Formoterol)
- PerforomistTM (Formoterol)
- BrovanaTM(Arformoterol)
- Intal® (Cromolyn), Tilade® (Nedocromil)
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- If able, stop these inhaled medicines for 24 hours before your appointment:
- Atrovent® (Ipratropium)
- Combivent® (Albuterol and Ipatropium)
- DuoNeb® (Albuterol and Ipatropium)
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- If able, stop these oral medicines for 24 hours before your appointment:
- Accolate® (zafirlukast)
- Zyflo® (zileuton)
- Singular® (montelukast)
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- If able, stop these oral medicines for 24 hours before your appointment:
- Volmax®, Ventolin®, Proventil®, Proventil Repetabs® (Albuterol), Metaprel® (Metaproterenol), Bricanyl®, Bethaine® (Terbutaline)
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- If able, stop these inhaled medicines for 6-8 hours before your appointment:
- Proventil HFA®, Ventolin HFA®, ProAir® (Albuterol), Xopenex® (Levalbuterol), Maxair® (Pirbuterol), Alupent®, Metaprel® (Metaproterenol), Primatene® Mist.
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| Continue to take all your other medicine as you usually do. |
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