Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Employing the Forced Oscillation Technique for the Assessment of Respiratory Mechanics in Adults
Published on: February 9, 2022
Longitudinal Changes in Spirometry in Deployed Air Force Firefighters
Andrew J Berglund1, John Kim, Robert J Walter
1Pulmonary/Critical Care Service, Department of Medicine, Wright Patterson Medical Center, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio (Dr Berglund); Internal Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Mike O'Callaghan Military Medical Center, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada (Dr Kim); and Pulmonary/Critical Care Service, Department of Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio Fort Sam Houston, Texas (Dr Walter, Dr McCann, Dr Morris).
Introduction:
Inhalational exposures are common among service members who deploy to southwest Asia. The objective of this study is to determine if deployed Air Force firefighters have any decline in spirometry related to deployment.
Methods:
This study is a retrospective chart review.
Results:
The database search identified 302 firefighters with documentation of two separate spirometry examinations. For deployed firefighters, mean change in forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1) percent predicted was -1.01 ± 7.86, forced vital capacity (FVC) was -0.46 ± 10.26 predicted, and mid-expiratory flow (FEF25-75) was -0.13 ± 12.97. For firefighters who had never deployed, mean change in FEV1 percent predicted was +0.08 ± 7.09, FVC was +0.72 ± 7.75, and FEF25-75 was -0.66 ± 16.17.
Conclusion:
There does not appear to be evidence that deployment causes a significant change in lung function as measured by spirometry.
More Related Videos
08:44Author Spotlight: Integrating Alveolar-Capillary Reserve Measurements in Exercise Adaptation and Therapeutic Strategies
Published on: February 2, 2024
08:25Combining Volumetric Capnography And Barometric Plethysmography To Measure The Lung Structure-function Relationship
Published on: January 8, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Pulmonary Function Tests
Pulmonary Function Tests are crucial diagnostic tools for assessing respiratory function, particularly in patients with chronic respiratory disorders. They comprehensively evaluate lung volumes, ventilatory function, breathing mechanics, diffusion, and gas exchange. These tests help diagnose pulmonary diseases and play a significant role in monitoring disease progression, evaluating disability, and assessing response to therapy.
PFTs involve using a spirometer, a...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
Respiratory Volumes
Tidal Volume (TV) Tidal volume (TV) is the air inhaled or exhaled in a...
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Inspection
Chest Configuration
The chest configuration...
Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation
Alveolar Surface Tension
The alveolar fluid lines the luminal surface of the alveoli and exerts a force called surface tension. This force is caused by the polar water molecules in the liquid being more strongly attracted to each...
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract I: Health History
Subjective Data
Subjective data provides vital information about the patient's health history and symptoms. This data is typically collected through interviews in which patients describe their experiences, symptoms, and concerns.
Health history and...