Pulmonary Function Test - (PFT)

What is a PFT?

A Pulmonary Function Test is a diagnostic procedure used to determine the capacity of the lungs (how much air they can hold), air flow (how well you can move the air in and out of your lungs) as well as giving an indication of their capacity to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide efficiently (how well you use the air you breathe).

I Don't Smoke, Do I Need a Pulmonary Function Test?

There are a number of factors that can put a person at risk for developing lung disease. These include:

• Environmental conditions such as chemical air pollutants, dirty air ducts from heating and air conditioning systems, secondhand smoke, etc.
• Genetic respiratory diseases, such as asthma and cystic fibrosis.
• Family history of respiratory disease.
• Occupational hazards such as chemical or dust that are inhaled.
• Obesity

What Will a PFT Do?

A PFT will help your doctor determine if you have a breathing problem, classify the type of problem you have and determine the severity of the problem.

This information will aide your doctor in formulating the most appropriate and effective program to treat your respiratory disease.

The Day of Your PFT ...

1. You should bring your doctor's prescription with you.
2. Plan to arrive a few minutes early and report to the Out Patient area on the ground floor.
3. You will then be assisted to the Pulmonary Function Lab on the third floor by a Respiratory Therapist. The therapist will then take a brief history and assist you with the test which requires you to perform a series of breathing maneuvers into a mouthpiece which is attached to a Pulmonary Function machine. Detailed, step-by-step instructions will be given to you during the test.
4. Don't come (unless instructed by your physician) if you have a bad cold, are running a temperature or are having a particularly bad time breathing that day. Please call and cancel.

After the Test

Following the test a computer will generate a printout and graph of your test results. These will be interpreted by your physician or a pulmonologist (lung specialist) and a copy of the PFT and interpretation will be sent to your physician.

A copy will also be kept on file at Corning Hospital for future reference. This will assist your physician and/or the pulmonologist in monitoring the progression and effectiveness of treatment of your respiratory disease.

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