Below is a summary of Pam’s electronic health record while she is in the hospital. As a technologist, you will perform and collect test results to help identify Pam’s condition. Answer the following questions and be prepared to discuss the responses with the rest of Pam’s healthcare team.
Review Pam’s VPE: Pam’s physician orders a pulmonary plethysmography and diffusion capacity (DLCO) test. Using VPE, match the definition to the test.
____ Diffusion capacity
A. Determines how much air the lungs can hold. After breathing into a mouthpiece, changes in pressure and the amount of air in the room and against the mouthpiece, determines the amount of air in the lungs.
____ Pulmonary plethysmography
B. Measures the body’s ability to exchange oxygen and carbon monoxide between the blood and lungs. After inhaling a small amount of carbon monoxide, a blood sample is taken to measure absorption by the lungs.