Procedure goal
- Investigate the function of external respiration in persons at risk, including people with chronic lung diseases, smokers with a long smoking history working in industrial enterprises;
- Identification of existing diseases and clarification of their nature and severity;
- Control of ongoing treatment.
Indications
Spirometry can be prescribed for a wide range of indications in pulmonology, allergology, and cardiology.
The study is necessary to determine the nature and severity of respiratory disorders in lung diseases, monitor their progression and treatment.
With the help of spirometry, various respiratory disorders (for example, restrictive and obstructive types) are differentiated.
Restrictive disorders are associated with the changes in the pulmonary parenchyma, limiting the elasticity of the lungs with normally passable airways (in the case of fibrosis, pneumosclerosis, pleurisy, kyphoscoliosis, etc.).
Disorders of the obstructive type are caused by an increased airway resistance (with bronchial asthma, bronchiectasis, obstructive bronchitis) while maintaining the normal functioning of the pulmonary parenchyma.
Spirometry helps determine the type of respiratory disorder and prescribe appropriate treatment.
Regular dynamic spirometry (twice a year) is required for patients with bronchial asthma and obstructive pulmonary disease.
The technique is used to select and evaluate the therapeutic effect of the use of bronchodilators in patients with bronchial asthma.
Spirometry is necessary for smokers over 40 years old, patients with chronic cough, shortness of breath, allergic and vasomotor rhinitis, heart failure, to assess the endurance of athletes.
Contraindications
• Hemoptysis or pulmonary hemorrhage.
• Insufficiency of the venous valves of the lower limbs with varicose veins, trophic disorders, and a tendency to increased blood clotting.
• Uncontrolled arterial hypertension (systolic blood pressure> 200 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure> 100 mm Hg).
• Aortic aneurysm.
• Myocardial infarction (or stroke) within the last 3 months.
• Postoperative period (one month after operations on the chest and abdominal cavity).
• Pneumothorax.
