Pulmonary Function Testing Essentials

Pulmonary

Video course

by Michael A. Grippi, MD

Pulmonary function testing is a pretty niche topic—and it’s about much more than simply looking at computer-generated test results. In this course, you’ll uncover the physiologic basis of pulmonary function testing and its clinical applications. Know when to use spirometry, what additional (and relatively uncommon) tests to consider, and how to use diagnostic algorithms to interpret test results.

1h 59m

10 Quizzes

4 CME

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After completing this course, you will be able to

Describe the history of pulmonary function testing and tests used to assess pulmonary function
Identify subdivisions of the expiratory spirogram, including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), and FEV₁ / FVC%
Evaluate lung health and recognize that deviations from normal reflect the effects of a variety of diseases
Use the inhalation challenge test to uncover subtle respiratory dysfunction and know when to use more specialized lung function tests
Measure dynamic compliance with helium-oxygen flow curves and the nitrogen washout test to investigate small airway function
Analyze the efficiency of gas exchange using diffusing capacity
Differentiate between obstructive and restrictive disorders, and diseases that affect the lungs versus those that affect related structures
Apply standard pulmonary function test interpretation guidelines
Interpret results according to the demographics of your patients

What's inside

Free

Chapter 1

The background

Get off to a running start. Here, you’ll cover the historical basis of pulmonary function testing, and the principal tests used in the assessment of known or suspected lung disease.

4 lessons

11m

The background intro

Reviewing key historical milestones

Identifying indications for pulmonary function testing

Recognizing pulmonary function test categories

The background quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 2

The basic techniques

In this chapter, you’ll review important techniques used in measuring various aspects of lung function, including airflow, lung volumes, and changes in lung volumes.

5 lessons

19m

The basic techniques intro

Appreciating testing ingenuity

Measuring lung volume using helium dilution

Using body plethysmography

Appreciating differences between various methods

The basic techniques quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 3

Evaluating the lungs at rest

Understand the static mechanical properties of the respiratory system. In this chapter, you’ll go deep into the relationship between volume and pressure at times of no airflow.

4 lessons

10m

Evaluating the lungs at rest intro

Measuring respiratory system compliance

Measuring static lung compliance

Measuring static chest wall compliance

Evaluating the lungs at rest quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 4

Assessing breathing

Here, you’ll concentrate on the relationships between pressure, flow, and volume during inspiration and expiration, and how to use these measurements to detect disease.

5 lessons

17m

Assessing breathing intro

Measuring forced vital capacities

Measuring maximal voluntary ventilation

Assessing airway resistance and conductance

Detecting airway inflammation

Assessing breathing quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 5

Challenging the airways

In this chapter, you’ll learn how to use various challenge tests to detect subtle disorders of respiratory function, such as cough-variant asthma or exercise-induced asthma.

5 lessons

11m

Challenging the airways intro

Performing the methacholine challenge test

Using the exercise test

Administering the inhalation challenge test

Taking precautions with bronchoprovocation testing

Challenging the airways quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 6

Checking small airways function

Take the road less travelled. Learn about less commonly used tests that can help you detect subtle disorders of respiratory function, such as disease isolated to the small airways.

4 lessons

13m

Checking small airways function intro

Measuring dynamic compliance

Interpreting helium-oxygen flow volume curves

Using the nitrogen washout test

Checking small airways function quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 7

Analyzing gas exchange

Here, you’ll learn how to analyze factors that determine the efficiency of gas transfer, particularly oxygen, across the alveolar-capillary membrane, and the test methods used.

4 lessons

15m

Analyzing gas exchange intro

Mastering the physiology of ventilation

Analyzing alveolar gas composition

Measuring diffusing capacity

Analyzing gas exchange quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 8

Using specialized lung function tests

Learn how to use additional pulmonary function tests, such as (HAST), the six-minute walk test, and testing respiratory responses to high carbon dioxide / low oxygen levels.

4 lessons

10m

Using specialized lung function tests intro

Using the high altitude simulation test (HAST)

Evaluating ventilatory responses to hypoxemia and hypercapnia

Performing the six-minute walk test

Using specialized lung function tests quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 9

Diagnosing respiratory disorders

Here, you’ll learn how to interpret patterns of pulmonary function test abnormalities, and cover important guidelines issued by American and European professional societies.

4 lessons

14m

Diagnosing respiratory disorders intro

Interpreting abnormal patterns

Adhering to interpretation guidelines

Assessing physiological determinants

Diagnosing respiratory disorders quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 10

Practicing your skills

Breathe a sigh of relief as you finish off strong. Wrap up the course with a recommended algorithm, and clinical cases where you can practice your interpretation skills.

3 lessons

Practicing your skills intro

Applying the recommended algorithm

Practicing your skills quiz

Quiz

Pulmonary Function Testing Essentials outro

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Teachers of this course

Michael A. Grippi, MD

Michael is Vice Chairman in the Department of Medicine and Associate Professor of Medicine in the Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Division at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, USA.

Teacher Profile

Medmastery

Nora Drenaline

Pulmonary

Claim your certificate

All members receive a certificate for completing this course. For Pro members, the certificate comes with 4 CME credits.

CME accredited

All our courses and workshops are fully CME accredited. We provide USA AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and European CME credits (ECMEC®s). Pro members can download their CME certificates upon successful completion of activities. Want to transfer these credits to your national system? No problem.

Learn how this works

CME at its best

Award-winning teaching method

Winner of the Comenius EduMedia Medal
For outstanding digital education—Berlin 2013
Highly commended by the British Medical Association
Awarded in the digital category of the BMA Book Awards—London 2017
Winner of the Comenius EduMedia Seal
For outstanding digital education—Berlin 2017
Internationally accredited
CME accredited in the USA and EU with mutual recognition agreements in most other countries.
Trusted institutional partner
Used by residency programs and universities around the world to train their clinicians and students.
Top-rated by our learners
Rated excellent by hundreds of users on Trustpilot, an independent reviewing platform.

What’s in it for you?

Master the most important skills

Learn any skill in under 5 hours

Save time and money

After completing this course, you will be able to

What's inside

The background

The basic techniques

Evaluating the lungs at rest

Assessing breathing

Challenging the airways

Checking small airways function

Analyzing gas exchange

Using specialized lung function tests

Diagnosing respiratory disorders

Practicing your skills

Claim your certificate

CME accredited

Winner of the Comenius EduMedia Medal

Highly commended by the British Medical Association

Winner of the Comenius EduMedia Seal

Internationally accredited

Trusted institutional partner

Top-rated by our learners