PFT Clinic II

While reviewing the patient’s medical record, you note that the FEV1/FVC ratio is reported as being severely reduced. Which of the following is most consistent with this finding?

• Pulmonary hypertension
• Morbid obesity
• Chronic asthma
• Pneumonia

Upon the assessment of a patient receiving volume control AC ventilation, you observe a flow-volume loop with a sawtooth pattern on exhalation. Which of the following actions would help this patient the most?

• Switch to pressure control ventilation
• Administer a bronchodilator
• Increase the endotracheal tube cuff pressure
• Assess the patient’s need for suctioning

The amount of gas that can be inhaled above the volume that is normally inhaled during quiet breathing is called what?

• FRC
• ERV
• IRV
• VC

After reviewing your work order for the day, you notice that you have a patient with chronic bronchitis and another patient with emphysema. Which of the following PFT findings would you expect for these patients?

• Increased lung compliance
• Decreased forced expiratory flows
• Decreased total lung capacity
• Decreased diffusing capacity

Upon entering the patient’s room, you heard the physician instruct the patient to “inhale as deeply as possible and then blow out all of the air as hard as you can.” Which pulmonary function test is being performed?

• IC
• TLC
• MVV
• FVC

You have been monitoring the vital capacity and maximum inspiratory pressure readings over the last 4 hours of a 39-year-old female patient that is receiving mechanical ventilation. The values have steadily decreased over this time period. How should this be interpreted?

• Her condition is worsening
• She has undiagnosed asthma
• Her strength is improving
• She is not giving her best effort

The results of a bedside spirometry test that was performed on a patient reveals the following: Respiratory rate = 19, Tidal volume = 380 mL, Dead space = 145 mL, Vital capacity = 1.1 L. Based on these results, what is the patient’s minute ventilation?

• 3.4 L/min
• 4.7 L/min
• 7.2 L/min
• 21.3 L/min

You are called to measure the strength of a patient’s respiratory muscles at the bedside. Which of the following devices would you select?

• Pressure manometer
• Peak flowmeter
• Ergometer
• Respirometer

Your patient has the following PFT results below: Vital Capacity 54% of predicted, FEV1 76% of predicted, FEV1/FVC ratio 82%, Peak Flow 119% of predicted, Total Lung Capacity 65% of predicted. Which of the following would be the best interpretation of the results?

• Restrictive disease only
• Obstructive disease only
• Bronchitis
• Mixed restrictive and obstructive disease

Using spirometry, you tested a 52-year-old female patient before and after a bronchodilator was given. The results show that her FEV1 increased from 62% to 83% of predicted. What do these results indicate?

• A fixed airway obstruction is present
• The patient has normal diffusion capacity
• The patient has a reversible airway obstruction
• The patient has a restrictive process