Lung Function Practicum 2

LUNG FUNCTION PRACTICAL

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this session you will be familiar with :

How to interpret lung function test results
How to assess quality
How to assess normality and how to use reference values
How to classify abnormality
interpreting spirometric results from exercises provided

Read the materials provided and discuss any questions related to the material.
Interpret a series of lung function test results.

APPROACHING LUNG FUNCTION TEST INTERPRETATION:

The concepts that are covered are:

There are three major patterns of lung function abnormality detectable on spirometry: obstructive, non-obstructive / restrictive and a mixed pattern of obstruction with a reduced FVC (Forced Vital Capacity).

"PERCENT PREDICTED":

The "Predicted" Value is based on a reference population, and varies by gender, age, height, and ethnicity.

GRADING IMPAIRMENT/SEVERITY:

The South African Thoracic society (SATS) has formulated a set of criteria for grading the extent of lung impairment. These are shown in the table below:

**Grading Impairment/Severity (SATS)**
Parameter	Normal	Mild (Able to meet the physical demands of most jobs)	Moderate (Diminished ability to meet physical demands of many jobs)	Severe (Unable to meet physical demands of most jobs)
% predicted FVC	ł 80%	60 - 79 %	51 - 59	Ł 50%
% predicted FEV₁	ł 80%	60 - 79 %	41 - 59	Ł 40%
FEV₁/FVC	ł 70%	60 - 69 %	41 - 9	Ł 40%

DECIDING ON REFERENCE VALUES - (for % predicted):

For most clinical applications it is acceptable to use ECCS values for all clients;
For applications with a medico-legal connotation (e.g. evaluation of impairment for compensation or insurance purposes); or
For applications of spirometry as a population screening test (e.g. when screening for occupational lung disease);
Population specific reference values are recommended.

REFERENCES:

Guidelines for office spirometry in adults, South African Thoracic Society.
DME Guideline for Lung Function Testing. If this link does not work, you can access the pdf file directly if you go to the CD into the directory for the lung function practicum. Click here for instructions.

Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health (DOH) - Modules 3 – 5: Occupational Medicine & Toxicology by Prof Rodney Ehrlich & Prof Mohamed Jeebhay is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
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