Obtaining Good Fvc Results - Welch Allyn PneumoCheck Operating Instructions Manual

OBTAINING GOOD FVC TEST RESULTS
Accuracy of spirometry testing is very dependent on the effort of the
patient and is only valid if the patient cooperates and performs the
test to the best of his/her ability. Properly instructing and coaching
the patient throughout the maneuver is therefore critical.
Your Welch Allyn PneumoCheck has a sophisticated monitoring
system which will help you in deciding whether a maneuver was a
valid effort.
However, you must know how to properly teach your patients to
perform good tests or your PneumoCheck will continually find fault
with maneuvers and you and your patient will quickly become
frustrated.
To Obtain a Good FVC Result:
Explain
1.
the test and what you expect.
Demonstrate
2.
mouth (teeth on the outside, forming a good seal with the lips).
Demonstrate
3.
Make sure your effort is a good one by inhaling all the way and
then exhaling as completely and rapidly as possible either into
the instrument or simply into the disposable mouthpiece.
Coach
4.
your patient throughout the test: "Now blast out hard and
fast!! All you can!! More! More! Keep going a little more!"
Learn
5. to recognize poor maneuvers by closely observing the
patient:
An acceptable maneuver requires:
adequate understanding
l
maximal inhalation
l
a rapid start of the effort
l
apparent maximal effort with continuous, steady
l
exhalation
at least three seconds of exhalation (the ideal is
l
six to ten seconds)
how to place the disposable mouthpiece in the
how a maneuver is done by doing one yourself.
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