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Performing Spirometry in General Practice |
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Professor John Wilson and Mr Bruce Thompson from The Alfred Hospital present the role of spirometry in the general practice setting for the diagnosis and management of asthma.
The Role of Spirometry
Video Clip One (3 mins 32 secs)
- A practical example of the technique for performing spirometry on a patient in the surgery.
- Introducing and explaining the test procedure to the patient.
- Coaching the patient through the test.
- Obtaining the best possible patient effort.
Discussion and Interpretation of Spirometry
Video Clip Two (3 mins and 42 secs)
- Advice to the patient about medication prior to coming for the test.
- What the patient can expect during the test.
- When spirometry should not be attempted.
- How to optimise results.
- What the results show about asthma.
Spirometry - an objective measurement
The preferred objective measurement for the diagnosis, management and monitoring of asthma is spirometry.
Two important measurements that are made are:
| Vital Capacity (VC) |
The maximum volume of air that can be exhaled or inspired during either a forced (FVC) or a slow (VC) manoeuvre. |
| Forced Expired Volume in one second
(FEV1)
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The volume expired in the first second of maximal expiration after a maximal inspiration and is a useful measure of how quickly full lungs can be emptied. |
The consistency and reproducibility of the FEV1, as well as the additional information provided by the spirometer, are among the reasons why spirometry is preferred over peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in general practice.
The additional information is
- FEV1
- FVC,
- the calculated ratio of FEV1/FVC, and
- the record of the flow/volume loop.
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With practice, the GP can deduce a great deal of information about the state of the lungs from the shape of the flow/volume loop.
Content updated 20 September, 2004
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 21 April 2009 )
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