Problem selecting an FEV1 highlights a training failure
A report of a patient’s complete set of PFTS came across my desk yesterday. There were a lot of inconsistencies in the report and I ended up looking at the…
A report of a patient’s complete set of PFTS came across my desk yesterday. There were a lot of inconsistencies…
22 Feb 2013 February 22, 2013 by Richard Johnston • Leave a comment
PACO and DLCO
Patients are advised not to smoke prior to DLCO testing, primarily because it increases carboxyhemoglobin. The effect of COHb on DLCO has been well studied, but COHb is not often…
Patients are advised not to smoke prior to DLCO testing, primarily because it increases carboxyhemoglobin. The effect of COHb on…
16 Feb 2013 February 16, 2013 by Richard Johnston • Leave a comment
DLCO, by the numbers
I was recently contacted by a physician looking for an illustration or diagram to help make gas exchange and DLCO more understandable. We’ve all seen the diagram of the alveoli…
I was recently contacted by a physician looking for an illustration or diagram to help make gas exchange and DLCO…
9 Feb 2013 February 9, 2013 by Richard Johnston • Leave a comment
Should complete PFTs always be done on a first visit?
This is not something I have any real influence over because the tests ordered on a patient’s first visit to the PFT lab are going to be determined by the…
This is not something I have any real influence over because the tests ordered on a patient’s first visit to…
31 Jan 2013 January 31, 2013 by Richard Johnston • Leave a comment
VA versus TLC, what this can tell you about test quality
I’ve had a bug lately about lung volumes and I guess that today is no different. A report with some odd lung volume results came across my desk and I’ve…
I’ve had a bug lately about lung volumes and I guess that today is no different. A report with some…
19 Jan 2013 January 19, 2013 by Richard Johnston • Leave a comment
VA, DLCO and COPD
Although the technology used to perform the single-breath DLCO test has improved since it was first developed in the 1950’s the essential concepts and equations have not changed significantly…
Although the technology used to perform the single-breath DLCO test has improved since it was first developed in the 1950’s…
14 Jan 2013 January 14, 2013 by Richard Johnston • Leave a comment
Open-access on-line medical journals
I have been researching different pulmonary function topics for quite a few years. The medical libraries I’ve frequented were, of course, originally all paper-based and to be able to find…
I have been researching different pulmonary function topics for quite a few years. The medical libraries I’ve frequented were, of…
10 Jan 2013 January 10, 2013 by Richard Johnston • Leave a comment
N2 washout drift throws another curve.
Just when we thought it was safe to go back in the water, we’ve run into another N2 washout-related problem. Although it probably affects the TLC and RV calculations in…
Just when we thought it was safe to go back in the water, we’ve run into another N2 washout-related problem.…
3 Jan 2013 January 3, 2013 by Richard Johnston • Leave a comment
Re-breathing DLCO, another almost unknown technique
Re-breathing DLCO may not be well known because this technique has not been used in routine clinical testing. It has instead been primarily used to research diffusing capacity during exercise…
Re-breathing DLCO may not be well known because this technique has not been used in routine clinical testing. It has…
28 Dec 2012 December 28, 2012 by Richard Johnston • Leave a comment
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