Information for Doctors
Does your patient suffer from any of the following?
· New or severe breathlessness?
· Frequent chest infections?
· Persistent cough or an unchanged cough?
· Experience chest pain, unexplained fatigue or sudden weight loss?
Would your patient benefit from any of the following?
· Assessment of smoking patients/respiratory status preoperatively?
· Skin prick allergen testing for atopic disease?
· Measurement of Exhaled Nitric Oxide to determine the benefit of ICS treatment?
Resources
What does it involve?
There are a number of tests that we perform here in the laboratory. The following is a guide on which test would benefit your patients.
Flow Volume Loop
Pre & Post bronchodilator
Asthma
First presentation sleep patient
Full Lung Function
(aka Complex Lung Function) Includes Pre & Post bronchodilator Flow volume loops, Lung Volumes and Gas Transfer.
First presentation respiratory patient
Emphysema
Smoker/Ex-smoker new shortness of breath
Emphysema for valve insertion (EBV)
Interstitial Lung Disease
Pulmonary Fibrosis
Medico-Legal / Work Cover assessments
Patient is on Prednisolone
On or about to commence chemotherapy/Stem Cell Transplant.
Occupational exposure to harmful substance
Bird Fanciers Lung - Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Bronchial Provocation –
Mannitol
Normal CLF but patient has asthmatic symptoms
Defence/Police Force Recruitment
Bronchial Provocation - Hypertonic Saline Challenge
SCUBA Diving medicals
Respiratory Muscle Strength - MIPs MEPs
Motor Neuron Disease, Muscular Dystrophy, Guillain–Barré syndrome
6 Minute Walk Test
Evaluate for home oxygen (MASS)
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test
Determination of the exercise capacity
Determination of the cause of a cardiopulmonary limitation to exercise
Identification of abnormal cardiopulmonary responses to exercise
Exercise prescription and monitoring response to exercise for training and rehabilitation
Evaluation of results of therapeutic intervention
Pre-operative evaluation
Impairment/disability evaluation
Allergen Skin Prick Test
Quantify atopy
Asthma
Differentiate between allergic and vasomotor rhinitis
Food reactions
Hypoxic Altitude Simulation Test
Patients wishing to fly by commercial airliner likely to develop PaO2 <55mmHg under in-flight conditions (COPD, other lung disease or cardiovascular disease resulting in PaO2 <72mmHg under sea-level, room air conditions)
Pre-existing requirements for oxygen
Other subjects with medical conditions at risk may include:
• Obstructive sleep apnoea
• Parenchymal lung disease
• PaO2 of 60-70 mmHg