It's New! We now are doing our pulmonary function test with a Pulmone™. This instrument does all the same testing as the old body box without having to sit in the box! So, if you have claustrophobia, are in a wheel chair, or have other limitations, fear no more. This is the instrument for you. It's is available at both our Kettering and Sycamore offices.

Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) is a procedure used to determine lung function for the purpose of:

• Diagnosis of new lung disease
• Clearance for planned surgeries
• Assessing status of existing lung disease
• Assessing effects of medical treatment on lung function

A respiratory therapist administers the pulmonary function test, which is a series of breathing maneuvers performed by the patient while seated in a chair before the instrument. After the initial tests are performed, if a bronchodilator (inhaler) may be given, and some of the tests repeated to determine if there is improvement with the medication. The testing requires approximately 1 hour to complete.

Because a bronchodilator is given as part of the test, it is important for the patient to hold all breathing treatments and inhalers prior to the test. These include:

Medication	Hold for:
Albuterol, Atrovent, Combivent, Maxair, ProAir, Proventil, Ventolin, Xopenex	4 hours
Advair, Brovana Inhaled Solution, Foradil, Serevent, Symbicort	12 hours
Arcapta, Breo, Ellipta, Spiriva, Arnuity, Incruse, Anoro, Trelegy	24 hours

This may not be a complete list as new medications are introduced frequently. The rule of thumb is if you take the bronchodilator every 4 hours, hold for at least 4 hours, if you take it every 12 hours hold it for at least 12 hours, if you take it every 24 hours, hold it for at least 24 hours. When in doubt call the office 24 hours prior to the test to verify.

The PFT's are performed at either one of our offices, Kettering or Sycamore. Tests are scheduled on an hourly basis (8 am, 9 am, 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm).

Tests are normally ordered following an appointment with one of our providers, but we can schedule testing as ordered by your primary care physician as well. When complete, reports with color graphs are sent to your primary care physician as well as kept in your permanent chart at our office. They are also available to you on MY CHART. See the receptionist if you are not signed up.

A 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) can be done in either office, however it is more frequently done with a pulmonary function test. The patient will walk with a technician in a specific course and asked to walk the greatest distance possible in 6 minutes. The patient will be monitored with a pulse Oximeter to measure O2 saturation and pulse. This may be done with or without oxygen depending on the doctor's orders. A walking device (cane or walker) may be used if appropriate. If a PFT is not being done at the same time, bronchodilators may be taken.

Bronchial provocation test (BPT) can be ordered following a normal pulmonary function test to assist in the assessment of asthma. An agent is inhaled in increasing doses with spirometry performed following each level following to determine a possible reaction. The test will be terminated if a reaction is noted. We do not perform these tests at our offices so you will be scheduled to the PFT lab at Kettering hospital.