Using spirometry in the primary care office

Preview

With publication of the American Thoracic Society's statement on standardization of spirometry and the use of computers for measuring performance, spirometry has become an increasingly practical office test. Expiration of air from fully inflated lungs and measurement of the volume over time can, in a cooperative patient who makes a maximal effort, provide a great deal of information on lung function. The authors discuss how to choose the best equipment, interpret test results, and differentiate among possible obstructive and restrictive pulmonary diseases.