Pulmonary function tests, or PFTs, measure how well the lungs work. For some of the test measurements, the client can breathe normally and quietly. Other tests require forced inhalation or exhalation after a deep breath. Sometimes, they will be asked to inhale a different gas or a medicine to see how it changes test results.
PFTs can be used in a variety of settings, and they are generally ordered to:
- Look for evidence of respiratory disease when patients present with respiratory symptoms (e.g. dyspnea, cough, cyanosis, wheezing, etc.)
- Assess for any progression of lung disease
- Monitor the efficacy of a given treatment
- Evaluate patients pre-operatively