Spirometry

Spirometry (spirography, respiratory function) is one of the main diagnostic methods in pulmonology and allergy to assess the functional state of the lungs.

The method allows to measure lung volume, expiratory volume in one second and expiratory flow rate.

After the study, the doctor assesses how much the disease has changed the ability of the lungs to fill with air and the ability of the bronchi to pass air during inhalation and exhalation.

In addition, the doctor can evaluate bronchoreactivity, i.e. the patient’s tendency to bronchospasm.

Indications for spirometry:

• Examination of chronic or protracted cough
• Assessment of the causes of shortness of breath
• Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of obstructive and restrictive disorders of the function of external respiration
• Differential diagnosis between asthma and COPD
• Assessment of the severity of patients with obstructive and restrictive pathology, including bronchial asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, heart failure, pulmonary fibrosis, scoliosis, obesity-hypoventilation syndrome, neuromuscular diseases
• Evaluation of the effectiveness of the therapy in bronchial asthma, COPD and cystic fibrosis

Induced Sputum Test

An induced sputum test is a sputum test that is obtained during several inhalations with a solution of sodium chloride (saline).

The test allows determining the degree of bronchial reactivity, quantitative and qualitative cellular composition of sputum, to assess the nature of inflammation of the respiratory tract.

What is the study used for?

• For the diagnosis of the pathological process in the lungs and respiratory tract
• To assess the nature of the pathological process in the respiratory organs
• For dynamic monitoring of the respiratory tract of patients with chronic respiratory diseases
• To assess the effectiveness of therapy

When is the study prescribed?

• In case of diseases of the lungs and bronchi (bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tuberculosis, bronchiectatic disease, neoplasms of the respiratory system, fungal or helminth lung invasion, interstitial lung diseases)
• If case of a cough with sputum
• In case of a specified or unclear process in the chest according to auscultation or X-ray examination

Daily Pulse Oximetry

Pulse oximetry (hydroxymetry, hemoximetry) is a non-invasive method for determining the degree of blood oxygen saturation. The method is based on a spectrophotometric method for estimating the amount of hemoglobin in the blood.

This study allows:

in real time monitoring the most important indicators of the functional state of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems

Pulse oximetry is prescribed in the following cases:

• anesthesia during operations;
• recovery after vascular surgery;
• respiratory failure;
• lack of oxygen in the internal organs and blood;
• respiratory arrest during sleep.

Exhaled Nitric Oxide Test

In our clinic, a medical gas analyzer is used to evaluate the level of nitric oxide (NO) in exhaled air.

The patient is offered to breathe into the tube for a certain time, and then the doctor evaluates the indicators and draws conclusions about the presence and severity of pulmonary pathology.

Nitric oxide is a marker of airway inflammation, which makes its measurement a useful tool for the diagnosis of bronchial asthma and other bronchopulmonary diseases.

This method is recommended to be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment regimens; it allows individual adjusting the prescribed dose of medication.

The presence of a device for measuring nitric oxide is mandatory for equipping a pulmonologist's office.

This research method is safe, gives a quick, accurate and reproducible result, suitable for adults and children.