Pulmonary Function Testing and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing: An Overview

Katherine Krol; Mary Anne Morgan; Sandhya Khurana

doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2018.12.014

Pulmonary Function Testing and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing: An Overview

Med Clin North Am. 2019 May;103(3):565-576. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2018.12.014.

Authors

Katherine Krol¹, Mary Anne Morgan¹, Sandhya Khurana²

Affiliations

¹ Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 692, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
² Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mary Parkes Center for Asthma & Pulmonary Care, University of Rochester School of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 692, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. Electronic address: sandhya_khurana@urmc.rochester.edu.

PMID: 30955522
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2018.12.014

Abstract

Respiratory symptoms are common reasons for patients to seek care and contribute significantly to use of health care resources. Identifying the underlying etiology of a respiratory symptom is key to management; yet, pinpointing the cause can be a challenge. Familiarity with the tools available to help discern between the various contributing etiologies is crucial in guiding management. Assessment and quantification of pulmonary function can provide an objective measure to guide diagnosis and therapy. We review key points of pulmonary function evaluation, highlighting indications and contraindications, fundamentals of interpretation, and the limitations of each individual component.

Keywords: Cardiopulmonary exercise test; Diffusing capacity; Pulmonary function test; Spirometry.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Exercise Test / methods*
Humans
Lung Diseases / diagnosis*
Respiratory Function Tests / methods*