Are There Benefits of Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT) When Patients are Acutely Ill?
Q. I was wondering about the reason for ordering a PFT on the acutely ill hospital inpatient. I always thought it to be better once their acute disease state has resolved. Are there situations where a PFT on an acutely ill respiratory patient would be of any benefit with their course of treatment? Roger A. Dear Roger, Of course, but remember that an abnormality, may resolve as the patient receives treatment. Simple bedside spirometry is very underused. No need to go to a PFT laboratory. Dr. Tom Need Surgeries but has Lung and Heart Trouble Q. Hi Dr. Tom, I have a bad mitral valve in my heart that the doctors don’t want to operate on because of my bad lungs. The lung doctors do not want to operate on the bulle in my lungs, because of my heart problems. What’s the answer? I am on multiple meds and 24/7 O2 at 2L normally, and 4L when exerting. Thank you! LuLu A. Dear LuLu, I need more information. In general, I would do the heart first and see what benefit you get. Dr. Tom Worried About H
