[Spirometry in the Medical Practice - Part 1: Measuring]

Spirometry in the Medical Practice - Part 1: Measuring Abstract. Today, every practitioner, as well as every hospital emergency, should be able to perform spirometry. However, the measurement requires solid basic knowledge as well as a certain amount of experience so that consistent and reproducible measurements are possible. Since the measurement depends heavily on the cooperation of the patient, typical errors must be recognised and corrected immediately. A rounded forced expiratory flow volume curve, or a sudden drop of the curve towards zero at the end of exhalation as well as clearly deviating curves or values in the minimum required three measurement manoeuvres are clear hints for an insufficiently forced expiration or an expiration that was stopped too early. Pulmonary function assistants need instructions as to when application of a rapid acting beta agonist with repeated spirometry to detect possible reversibility is necessary. This includes knowing how long therapeutic bronchodilators must be stopped prior to the test.