Chest
Clinical InvestigationsThe Flow Volume Loop: Normal Standards and Abnormalities in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Section snippets
METHOD
The flow-volume loop is a test of ventilatory function in which velocity of airflow is plotted against volume during a maximal effort expiratory and inspiratory vital capacity maneuver. Two hundred and forty-seven normal subjects, 11 patients with pulmonary emphysema, 10 patients with chronic bronchitis, and 10 patients with bronchial asthma were studied. Patients with bronchial asthma performed the test before and after administration of the bronchodilator, isoproterenol. Subjects were chosen
RESULTS
Analysis of variance for indices measured from ten consecutive flow-volume loops showed that only two similar flow-volume loops per subject would need to be performed in order to obtain reliable indices. Since there is visual display of the test results, the similarity or dissimilarity between two flow-volume loops can be assessed at the completion of the test, allowing additional flow-volume loops to be performed when needed.
Age distribution, anthropomorphic characteristics, pulmonary function
DISCUSSION
The flow-volume loop is a ventilatory test which is reproducible, easy to demonstrate, administer, monitor, and calculate. Availability of prediction equations for normalcy of indices calculated from the flow-volume loop using simple anthropomorphic data makes the test useful in screening for pulmonary disease and assessing progression or regression of disease. Prediction equations were derived for VC, and points on the expiratory and inspiratory curve at 25 percent, 50 percent, and 75 percent
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Supported by a grant from the John A. Hartford Foundation and Public Health Service Grant S-M01-RR-3-13, from the Division of Research Resources.