Clinical Tests of Respiratory Function, Fourth Edition

Dr. James Hull is a Consultant Respiratory Physician at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, UK with interest in severe asthma and exercise physiology and clinical lead for chronic cough and upper airway services. He is also Honorary Senior Lecturer at Imperial College, London and Visiting Fellow, Sports Science, University of Northumbria, Newcastle. His research and areas of expertise include asthma, cough, shortness of breath, reasons for exercise limitation and unexplained hypoxemia. Simon Ward is Chief Clinical Respiratory Physiologist at NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, The Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and Imperial College, London, UK. As the Respiratory Physiology Unit Manager, he oversees clinical activities at two laboratories: one for routine lung function testing (spirometry, body plethysmography and gas transfer) and one for more specialised procedures and tests. Dr. G.J Gibson is Professor of Respiratory Medicine, University of Newcastle upon Tyne; and Consultant Respiratory Physician, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. He has served at President of the European Respiratory Society (2002-3), and President of the British Thoracic Society (2004-5). Dr. Gibson is the recipient of the European Respiratory Society Educational award (2006) and the British Thoracic Society medal (2012). His clinical research interests include sleep apnea, respiratory muscle function, and clinical respiratory medicine.

Introduction – how to use this book. Part A: The tests and their physiological basis. Introduction to Respiratory Function tests. The basis and simple tests (routine). Respiratory mechanics. Airway function. Pulmonary gas exchange. Carbon monoxide diffusing capacity. Arterial blood gases and acid/nacid. Complex tests. Tests of ventilatory control. Respiratory measurements during sleep. Exercise tests. Part B: Function in respiratory disease. Airflow obstruction (including asthma). Suppurative lung disease (Bx and CF). Interstitial lung disease. Central airway obstruction and bronchial carcinoma. Respiratory infections. Critical care. Diseases of the pleura and chest wall. Pulmonary vascular disease. Transplant monitoring. Sleep disordered breathing. Part C: Respiratory function in systemic conditions. Cardiac disease. Overweight. Neuromuscular disease. Other systemic conditions. Renal diseases. Metabolic and endocrine disorders. Rheumatic and connective tissue disorders. Pre-operative considerations. Part D: Interpretation. What is normal? Interpretation of respiratory function tests. How to report lung function tests. Approach to unexplained breathlessness. Approach to unexplained hypoxamiea. Approach to suspected respiratory muscle weakness. Part E: Clinical examples. Part F: Clinical Questions and Answers.