[Use of helium spirometric pulmonary function tests by general practitioners at a hospital outpatient department]

The case records of 94 helium spirometric pulmonary function investigations on patients referred by their general practitioners to the clinical-physiological department, Svendborg Hospital during 1985 and 1986 are reviewed. In 35% of the cases, the diagnosis on referral was "dyspnoea of unknown origen". Half of the results of the investigation were abnormal and it is concluded that this investigation is suitable for differentiating the patients who have reduced ventilatory capacity as the reason for the dyspnoea. 11% of the material consists of patients with bronchial asthma. According to the literature, these patients could be monitored advantageously instead with current peak-flow measurements. 18% of the investigations were carried out on patients with chronic bronchitis. The authors consider that a single spirometric measurement should be replaced by current monitoring of the forced expiration in litres and the forced vital capacity. Investigations undertaken as part of assessment for pensioning constotuted 18%. It was apparent from a questionnaire investigation that the general practitioners obtained considerable information from the result of the investigation. This information was independent of the result of the investigation. The profits were greatest when the investigation resulted in alteration of medication than when this was not the case.