Clinical utility of lung mechanics measurements

摘要

Although routine lung function tests, such as spirometry, can be used to diagnose bronchial and parenchymal disease, lung mechanics studies are often required to differentiate between the two forms of disease. The flow regulator method allows analysis of parenchymal mechanics in terms of the elastic recoil pressure versus volume curve and of bronchial properties in terms of the elastic recoil pressure versus resistance curve. In this report the clinical utility of lung mechanics measurements is illustrated by means of two cases. A complete battery of lung function tests allows diagnosis and comprehension of the patient's symptoms for many diseases which are difficult to diagnose using only spirometry.