Proudly Serving East Texas Since 1985

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PSOT

Contact Info:

912 S. Fleishel

Tyler, TX 75701

Ph: 903 592-6901                         

Fax: 903 595-2571

 

 
Pulmonary Specialists of Tyler, P.A.

PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTING

Pulmonary function tests (PFT) are a series of tests that are routinely performed at PSOT to measure lung physiologic capacity. Full PFT equipment is located within the PSOT office and testing is performed by a full-time dedicated respiratory therapist skilled in this procedure.

One simple component of PFTs is the spirometry test. Spirometry measures the lungs ability to inhale and exhale. A graphical representation of one’s breathing is generated. The information gathered during this test is useful in diagnosing certain types of lung disorders, but is most useful when assessing for obstructive lung diseases, especially asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   

                                 

                                  

 

 

 

 

                   Sample spirometry graph                                    PFT Equipment

 

Lung volume measurement (lung plethysmography), another facet of PFTs, permits the detection of the absolute gas volumes of one’s lungs. This test is helpful in diagnosing restrictive lung diseases, in which lung volumes  are frequently shrunken. These diseases may be caused by inflammation or scarring of the lung tissue (interstitial lung disease) or by abnormalities of the muscles or skeleton of the chest wall. Lung volume testing also reveals any air trapping in the lungs.

A final aspect of PFTs is measuring the diffusion capacity (also called the DLCO). The DLCO permits an estimate of how efficiently the lungs are able to transfer oxygen from the air into the bloodstream and the amount of area (alveolar volume) for diffusion to take place. The DLCO is frequently diminished in COPD and restrictive lung diseases.