The Intern At Work: Internal Medicine 110. Approach to Pulmonary Function Tests (Part 1)
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Oct 24, 2021 This podcast delves into respiratory mechanics, the importance of PFTs in diagnosing symptoms, screening for pathology, and predicting outcomes. It also explores gas dilution methods, DLCO measurement, and the significance of CBC in conjunction with PFTs for accurate interpretation.
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Lungs as Balloons Analogy
- Imagine lungs as balloons with different expanding and recoiling behaviors.
- This analogy illustrates the varying effort needed in breathing mechanics.
How Breathing Mechanically Works
- Breathing requires coordinated neural, muscular, and mechanical function.
- Boyle's law explains how increased thoracic volume lowers pressure to draw air in.
Practical Uses of PFTs
- Use PFTs to evaluate symptoms, screen high-risk groups, monitor lung-toxic meds, and assess surgical risk.
- PFTs also help predict disease severity and treatment response effectively.