Pulmonary Function Testing Hospital in Mumbai, India

“Our commitment to you is the comprehensive care you receive”
The Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) Unit at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital strives to offer the most comprehensive diagnostic services to patients suffering from a wide spectrum of pulmonary diseases. We have an ultra-modern Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) laboratory that is equipped with advanced equipment and state-of-the-art technologies which is used to perform a range of tests for diagnosing and monitoring lung diseases.

Pulmonary function testing is a non-invasive way to find out how well your lungs are working by measuring various parameters of lungs such as lung volume, capacity, rates of flow of air, and gas exchange. Results obtained from these tests are used by our doctors to diagnose and decide the treatment for certain lung disorder.
We have a team of highly experienced and trained pulmonologists, respiratory therapists and technicians who evaluate the condition of each patient in a multidisciplinary pattern and offer an effective treatment plan according to his/her unique medical needs. We make sure that every patient undergoing PFT feels comfortable throughout the process.

Conditions We Diagnose Using PFT

Some of the major conditions diagnosed using pulmonary function tests involve:

Asbestosis (caused by inhaling asbestos fibres)
Asthma
Bronchiectasis
Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic Lung Conditions
Emphysema
Inflammation of the Lungs
Lung Fibrosis (where scar tissue appears in the lung tissue)
Restrictive airway problems
Sarcoidosis (growth of inflammatory cells)
Scarring of the Lungs
Scleroderma (a disease that causes thickening and hardening of connective tissue)
Scoliosis

At times, doctors may recommend PFTs for people who work in hazardous conditions, like in places that involve the use of (or produce):

Asbestos
Coal
Graphite
Paint
Sawdust

Pulmonary Function Testing Procedures

PFT can be performed in two different ways. These include:

Spirometry: A spirometer is a device that comes with a mouthpiece which is hooked up to a small electronic machine and is used to measure a patient’s efforts multiple times. The process provides information about the rate of airflow and estimates lung size.
Plethysmography: It is a process used to measure the volume of the lungs. For performing the test a patient has to stand or sit inside an air-tight box that looks like a telephone booth, and use a mouthpiece for breathing in and out.

PFT Measures

Tidal Volume (VT): It is the amount of air a person inhale or exhale while breathing normally.
Minute Volume (MV): It is a measure of the amount of air one can exhale in a minute.
Residual Volume: It is used to measure the amount of air left in the lungs after exhaling all the air with full pressure.
Total Lung Capacity: It is a measure of the total volume of the lungs after filling it with as much air as a person can take.
Vital Capacity (VC): It is a measure of the total volume of air one can exhale after inhaling the maximum amount of air according to his/her capacity.
Functional Residual Capacity (FRC): It is a measure of the amount of air left in the lungs after exhaling it normally.
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC): It is a measure of the amount of air a person can exhale with force and quickly after inhaling, up to his/her maximum capability.
Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV): It is a measure of the amount of air that expires during the first, second, and third seconds of the FVC test.
Forced Expiratory Flow (FEF): It is a measure of the average rate of flow of air taken during the middle half of the FVC test.
Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR): It is a measure that provides the fastest rate at which a person can force the air out of the lungs.

These tests come with no side-effects. The values of PFT measures are based on factors like age, height, sex, race, and may vary from person to person. However, a doctor uses these values to design an effective, patient-centric treatment plan.