Department of Pulmonary Medicine
Dr. Mustaffa Singaporewala
The Pulmonary Department at Pushpa Mission Hospital in Ujjain specializes in the diagnosis and management of various respiratory conditions. It offers advanced diagnostic services, including Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) and Bronchoscopy. PFTs are used to assess lung function, helping diagnose conditions like asthma, COPD, and interstitial lung diseases. Bronchoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows doctors to visually examine the airways and obtain tissue samples for further analysis, aiding in the diagnosis of infections, tumors, and chronic respiratory conditions. The department provides comprehensive care for conditions such as asthma, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and COPD, with a team of skilled pulmonologists offering both inpatient and outpatient services to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) are a group of tests that measure how well your lungs are working. They assess lung volume, capacity, and the flow of air in and out of the lungs, helping doctors diagnose and monitor respiratory conditions. PFTs are essential in evaluating conditions such as asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, and other obstructive or restrictive lung diseases.
Here are some key aspects of PFTs:
Types of Pulmonary Function Tests:
Spirometry:
- The most common test, it measures the amount (volume) and speed (flow) of air a person can inhale and exhale. It helps assess conditions like asthma, COPD, and bronchitis.
- Key measurements include Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV1).
Lung Volume Measurement:
- Measures the total amount of air the lungs can hold, including the air that remains in the lungs after a forced exhale (residual volume).
- This test is often used to assess restrictive lung diseases like pulmonary fibrosis.
Diffusion Capacity (DLCO):
- Measures how efficiently oxygen moves from the lungs into the bloodstream. It helps evaluate conditions such as interstitial lung diseases or pulmonary vascular disorders.
Body Plethysmography:
- A more detailed test that measures lung volume and airway resistance. It helps to assess conditions like COPD or restrictive lung diseases.
Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Analysis:
- Although not always part of standard PFTs, an ABG test can be conducted to measure oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood, providing more information about the lungs’ ability to exchange gases.
Why PFTs Are Performed:
- Diagnosis: PFTs help diagnose various lung conditions, including asthma, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and other restrictive or obstructive lung diseases.
- Monitoring: They are essential for tracking the progression of lung diseases and evaluating how well treatment is working.
- Preoperative Evaluation: They help assess lung function before surgeries, especially in patients with a history of lung conditions.
- Assessment of Lung Function Over Time: Regular PFTs can be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatments, including medications or respiratory therapies.
Procedure:
- PFTs are typically non-invasive and painless.
- The patient is asked to breathe into a mouthpiece connected to a machine, sometimes following specific instructions such as taking a deep breath and exhaling as forcefully and completely as possible.
- The test might be repeated several times to ensure accuracy.
Bronchoscopy is a medical procedure that allows doctors to visually examine the airways, including the trachea, bronchi, and lungs, using a flexible tube called a bronchoscope. This procedure is used to diagnose, evaluate, and sometimes treat respiratory conditions. The bronchoscope is equipped with a light and a camera, enabling the pulmonologist to view the inside of the airways in real time.
