Question

A 32 y/o woman smoker complained of difficulty breathing and was given pulmonary function tests. Her vital capacity measured 2630 ml, and her FEV1 was 70%. However, her FEV1 increased to 78% after using albuterol.

- Describe how and why the tests for vital capacity and forced expiratory volume (FEV) where changed.

- Explain the clinical significance of these tests and what may account for the patient’s test results (What is the diagnosis?).

- Explain the action of albuterol and the significance of the patient’s response to this drug.

Answer 1

QUESTION: DESCRIBE HOW AND WHY THE TESTS FOR VITAL CAPACITY AND FORCED EXPIRATORY VOLUME (FEV) WHERE CHANGED.

• THE PATIENT WHO IS A SMOKER, COMPLAINS OF DIFFICULTY IN BREATHING AND HENCE TO EVALUATE THE EFFECT OF FUNCTIONING OF THE LUNGS THE VITAL CAPACITY AND FEV1 TESTS WERE PERFORMED.
• THE PATIENT 'S COMPLAINTS CORRESPOND TO THE SIGNS OF BRONCHOSPASM IN THE LUNGS WHICH LEADS TO ASTHMA OR MAY PROGRESS TO CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD).
• ALBUTEROL RELIEVES  BRONCHOSPASM BY RELAXING THE MUSCLES AND DECREASING THE SWELLING OF THE MUSCLES ADJACENT TO THE AIRWAYS.
• HENCE THE FEV1 VALVE HAS IMPROVED FROM 70% TO 78% AFTER THE DRUG ADMINISTRATION.

QUESTION: EXPLAIN THE CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE TESTS AND WHAT MAY ACCOUNT FOR THE PATIENT'S TEST RESULTS (WHAT IS THE DIAGNOSIS?)

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE :

1. VITAL CAPACITY:

• IT IS THE ASSESSMENT OF THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF AIR THAT CAN BE INHALED OR EXHALED BY THE LUNGS.
• THE TEST IS CALLED AS SPIROMETRY, WHEREIN THE PATIENTS INHALES AND EXHALES THROUGH THE MOTH OF THE SPIROMETER WHICH MEASURES THE AIRFLOW .
• NORMAL VITAL CAPACITY RANGES FROM 3 TO 5 LITRES.

TESTS DIAGNOSIS:

• ASTHMA
• PNEUMONIA
• PULMONARY FIBROSIS

2. FORCED EXPIRATORY VOLUME (FEV 1):

• THE AMOUNT OF AIR THAT YOU CAN EXHALE WITH MAXIMUM EFFORT IN ONE SECOND AFTER A FULL EXPIRATION REFERS TO THE FORCED EXPIRTAORY VOLUME IN ONE SECOND.
• IT IS A TIMED MEASUREMENT.

TEST DIAGNOSIS:

• ASTHMA
• COPD

QUESTION: EXPLAIN THE ACTION OF ALBUTEROL AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PATIENT'S RESPONSE TO THIS DRUG.

ACTION OF ALBUTEROL:

• BETA-ADRENERGIC AGONIST DRUGS.
• IT IS A BRONCHODILATOR WHICH IMPROVES THE AIRWAYS BY RELAXING THE SURROUNDING MUSCLES .IT PREVENTS THE CONSTRICTION OF THE AIRWAYS.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PATIENT'S RESPONSE TO THE DRUG:

• THE DRUG REDUCED THE BRONCHOSPASM AND HAD IMPROVED THE AIRWAY WHICH HAS REFLECTED IN THE INCREASE OF FEV 1 VALUE FROM 70% TO 78% .