Multi-breath Washout and the Lung Clearance Index
The March 1, 2014 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine had an article on the use of the Lung Clearance Index (LCI) with bronchiectasis. The…
The March 1, 2014 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine had an article on the…
22 Dec 2014 December 22, 2014 by Richard Johnston • Leave a comment
Closing Volume
Closing Volume (CV) is a measurement made from a single-breath nitrogen washout (SBNW) test. It was commonly performed decades ago and elevated values were considered to be an indication of…
Closing Volume (CV) is a measurement made from a single-breath nitrogen washout (SBNW) test. It was commonly performed decades ago…
16 Dec 2014 December 16, 2014 by Richard Johnston • Leave a comment
Standing height, ethnicity and the vital capacity
In 1844 John Hutchinson published his first paper describing his spirometer and his research on the Vital Capacity. He was the first person to use the word “spirometer” to describe…
In 1844 John Hutchinson published his first paper describing his spirometer and his research on the Vital Capacity. He was…
8 Dec 2014 December 8, 2014 by Richard Johnston • Leave a comment
When it’s FVC 1, EOT 2, volume comes out short
I was reviewing a pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry report that showed a relatively large increase in FVC but the change in FEV1 was not significant. It’s not impossible for a…
I was reviewing a pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry report that showed a relatively large increase in FVC but the change…
29 Nov 2014 November 29, 2014 by Richard Johnston • Leave a comment
Assessing the response to bronchodilators
The current ATS/ERS guidelines require that an individual have a post-bronchodilator increase in FEV1 or FVC of at least 12% and 200 ml in order for it to be considered…
The current ATS/ERS guidelines require that an individual have a post-bronchodilator increase in FEV1 or FVC of at least 12%…
25 Nov 2014 November 25, 2014 by Richard Johnston • Leave a comment
Is it Dynamic Hyperinflation or something else?
Patients with COPD often have a ventilatory limitation as their primary limitation to exercise. A ventilatory limitation to exercise has traditionally been assessed by the breathing index or the br…
Patients with COPD often have a ventilatory limitation as their primary limitation to exercise. A ventilatory limitation to exercise has…
16 Nov 2014 November 16, 2014 by Richard Johnston • Leave a comment
Hidden FIVC
I was about to put a PFT report I’d been reviewing in my outbox when I noticed something odd about the flow-volume loop. What I saw was that the final…
I was about to put a PFT report I’d been reviewing in my outbox when I noticed something odd about…
8 Nov 2014 November 8, 2014 by Richard Johnston • Leave a comment
Inspiratory Flow-Volume Loops
Recently I was discussing a flow-volume loop with one of our pulmonary physicians. His concern was whether the loop, which was from a patient with a cracked hyoid, was showing…
Recently I was discussing a flow-volume loop with one of our pulmonary physicians. His concern was whether the loop, which…
31 Oct 2014 October 31, 2014 by Richard Johnston • Leave a comment
When a Pulmonary Mechanical Limitation to exercise isn’t the real limitation
Recently I was reviewing a cardio-pulmonary exercise test (CPET) that at first glance seemed to show the patient had a pulmonary mechanical limitation. Specifically, the patient’s minute vent…
Recently I was reviewing a cardio-pulmonary exercise test (CPET) that at first glance seemed to show the patient had a…
26 Oct 2014 October 26, 2014 by Richard Johnston • Leave a comment
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