A patient is being considered for participation in a pulmonary ...

[rlane42]

A patient is being considered for participation in a pulmonary rehabilitation program. Which of the following pulmonary function tests would you recommend be performed as a component of the preliminary evaluation?
 
  1. Lung volumes, including functional residual capacity (FRC)
  2. Diffusing capacity (DLCO)
  3. Pre- and post-bronchodilator flows
  4. Lung and thoracic compliance
  a. 2 and 4 only
  b. 1, 2, and 3 only
  c. 1, 2, 3, and 4
  d. 1, 2, and 4 only

Question 2

A cardiopulmonary exercise evaluation is conducted on a patient before participation in pulmo-nary rehabilitation for what purposes?
 
  1. To quantify the patient's baseline exercise capacity
  2. To develop an exercise prescription (including target heart rate)
  3. To determine how much desaturation occurs with exercise
  a. 2 and 3 only
  b. 1, 2, and 3
  c. 1 and 2 only
  d. 1 and 3 only

[mcarey591]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
The pulmonary function testing can include assessment of pulmonary ventilation, lung volume determinations, diffusing capacity (DLCO), and pre-bronchodilator and post-bronchodilator spi-rometry.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
The cardiopulmonary exercise evaluation serves two key purposes in pulmonary rehabilitation. First, it quantifies the patient's initial exercise capacity. This provides the basis for the exercise prescription (including setting a target heart rate) and also yields the baseline data for assessing a patient's progress over time. In addition, the evaluation helps to determine the degree of hy-poxemia or desaturation that can occur with exercise.

[rlane42]

Great answer, keep it coming

[bulacsom]

Excellent