ABSTRACT
Pulmonary function testing (PFT) is important in the assessment of patients presenting with respiratory complaints. It aids in the diagnosis of pulmonary conditions and often helps distinguish between various illnesses that can appear quite similar. Pulmonary function assessments can be used to determine whether a patient is safe to undergo surgery or bronchial challenge testing. In addition, pulmonary function testing can be used to assess the respiratory status of a given individual over time. For example, if a patient with asthma is complaining of a marked increase in shortness of breath from baseline, a decrease in lung function might indicate the need for an escalation in controller therapy or for a burst of systemic steroids. Alternatively, a stable lung function in this same patient might indicate the need to look elsewhere for the cause of this patient’s increasing shortness of breath.
