New Tests to Assess Lung Function

Abstract

IntroductionLUNG-FUNCTION testing has an important role in the assessment of patients with a variety of cardiorespiratory disorders. A number of tests are now performed routinely in most teaching hospitals. The commonest are measurements obtained by plotting expired lung volume against time during a determination of forced expiratory vital capacity. The resulting curve generates a number of indexes including the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV_1.0) and the ratio between this volume and the forced vital capacity (FEV_1.0/FVC). Other routine tests include the subdivisions of lung volume, measurements of airway resistance and of diffusing capacity. . . .