PFT Final Exam Study Guide with
Complete Solutions
1. The following volumes are reported for a patient. Which of the following capacities is
erroneous?
i. TLC 5.4 L RV 1.0 L
ii. IRV 2.6 L VC 4.2 L
iii. ERV 1.0 L VT 0.6 L
iv. FRC 2.0 L IC 3.2 L - ANSWER-a. TLC
b. VC
c. FRC
d. IC
A 25 y/o male has an uncorrected DLCO of 24.9 L/min/mmHg (69% of predicted) but no
history of pulmonary disease. Which of the following might explain these findings?
I.. Left to right shunt
II.. Carboxyhemoglobinemia
III.. Congestive heart failure
IV. Anemia - ANSWER-a. I and II only
b. III and IV only
c. I, II, and III
d. II, III, and IV
A decrease in lung compliance is consistent with all of the following EXCEPT: -
ANSWER-a. Fibrosis
b. Pulmonary edema
c. Pulmonary emboli
d. Emphysema
A outpatient has her VD/VT ratio measured as 0.48 (48%); this finding is - ANSWER-a.
Normal for an adult female
b. Consistent with pulmonary hypertension
c. Diagnostic of mild restrictive lung disease
d. Expected after surgical removal of one lung
A patient has an FEV1/FVC of 50%. This is consistent with: - ANSWER-a. Restrictive
lung disease
b. Obstructive lung disease
c. Both restrictive and obstructive lung disease
d. Normal lung function
A patient has the following results from a methacholine challenge test:
Dose FEV1
Baseline 4.25
, Diluent 3.80
Diluent 3.70
0.31 mg/ml 3.40 0.62
mg/ml 2.73
The percent change from diluent to 0.62 mg/ml is: - ANSWER-a. 26
b. 28
c. 32
A patient performs the 7 minute N2 washout procedure; after 5 minutes the % N2
displayed on the graph of the washout ids 0.5%. This is consistent with: - ANSWER-a.
Moderate obstructive disease
b. Mild restrictive disease
c. Normal distribution
d. Early small airway disease
A patient performs three FVC maneuvers using an analog spirometer. The technologist
reports that all maneuvers had a back-extrapolated volume of less than 5% and 150
mL. The maneuvers met all other criteria for acceptability and repeatability. The
technologist should: - ANSWER-a. Repeat all maneuvers
b. Correct the FEV1 and all other flows by the amount of the back-extrapolated volume
c. Perform at least one more maneuver
d. Report the average of the three FVC values
A patient takes 2 puffs of albuterol and testing is done immediately. The results did not
improve by much, what would you recommend? - ANSWER-a. Report the results as no
post bronchodilator improvement
b. Wait 4 hours to repeat the entire spirometry testing
c. Have the patient take 2 more puffs of albuterol and repeat the post spirometry testing
d. Wait 15-20 minutes before performing the post bronchodilator testing.
A patient with a history of COPD is being evaluated for disability. His FEV1 is 1.44L
(43% of predicted), and his DLCO is 14.5 ml CO/min /mmHg (61% of predicted). Which
of the following tests is most appropriate to perform next? - ANSWER-a. Lung volumes
by plethysmography
b. Room air arterial blood gases
c. Treadmill exercise test with pulse oximetry
d. Postbonchodilator spirometry
A patient with an FEV1 of 1.24 L and an FVC of 3.10 L performs the FRC test. The He
concentration between 6 and 6.5 minutes changed by 0.1%, and between 7 and 7.5
minutes changed by 0.08%. The technician correctly concludes equilibration has not
been reached. The most likely explanation is: - ANSWER-a. The patient is malingering
b. The N2 analyzer has malfunctioned
c. The CO2 absorber is contaminated
d. This is consistent with severe airway obstruction
Complete Solutions
1. The following volumes are reported for a patient. Which of the following capacities is
erroneous?
i. TLC 5.4 L RV 1.0 L
ii. IRV 2.6 L VC 4.2 L
iii. ERV 1.0 L VT 0.6 L
iv. FRC 2.0 L IC 3.2 L - ANSWER-a. TLC
b. VC
c. FRC
d. IC
A 25 y/o male has an uncorrected DLCO of 24.9 L/min/mmHg (69% of predicted) but no
history of pulmonary disease. Which of the following might explain these findings?
I.. Left to right shunt
II.. Carboxyhemoglobinemia
III.. Congestive heart failure
IV. Anemia - ANSWER-a. I and II only
b. III and IV only
c. I, II, and III
d. II, III, and IV
A decrease in lung compliance is consistent with all of the following EXCEPT: -
ANSWER-a. Fibrosis
b. Pulmonary edema
c. Pulmonary emboli
d. Emphysema
A outpatient has her VD/VT ratio measured as 0.48 (48%); this finding is - ANSWER-a.
Normal for an adult female
b. Consistent with pulmonary hypertension
c. Diagnostic of mild restrictive lung disease
d. Expected after surgical removal of one lung
A patient has an FEV1/FVC of 50%. This is consistent with: - ANSWER-a. Restrictive
lung disease
b. Obstructive lung disease
c. Both restrictive and obstructive lung disease
d. Normal lung function
A patient has the following results from a methacholine challenge test:
Dose FEV1
Baseline 4.25
, Diluent 3.80
Diluent 3.70
0.31 mg/ml 3.40 0.62
mg/ml 2.73
The percent change from diluent to 0.62 mg/ml is: - ANSWER-a. 26
b. 28
c. 32
A patient performs the 7 minute N2 washout procedure; after 5 minutes the % N2
displayed on the graph of the washout ids 0.5%. This is consistent with: - ANSWER-a.
Moderate obstructive disease
b. Mild restrictive disease
c. Normal distribution
d. Early small airway disease
A patient performs three FVC maneuvers using an analog spirometer. The technologist
reports that all maneuvers had a back-extrapolated volume of less than 5% and 150
mL. The maneuvers met all other criteria for acceptability and repeatability. The
technologist should: - ANSWER-a. Repeat all maneuvers
b. Correct the FEV1 and all other flows by the amount of the back-extrapolated volume
c. Perform at least one more maneuver
d. Report the average of the three FVC values
A patient takes 2 puffs of albuterol and testing is done immediately. The results did not
improve by much, what would you recommend? - ANSWER-a. Report the results as no
post bronchodilator improvement
b. Wait 4 hours to repeat the entire spirometry testing
c. Have the patient take 2 more puffs of albuterol and repeat the post spirometry testing
d. Wait 15-20 minutes before performing the post bronchodilator testing.
A patient with a history of COPD is being evaluated for disability. His FEV1 is 1.44L
(43% of predicted), and his DLCO is 14.5 ml CO/min /mmHg (61% of predicted). Which
of the following tests is most appropriate to perform next? - ANSWER-a. Lung volumes
by plethysmography
b. Room air arterial blood gases
c. Treadmill exercise test with pulse oximetry
d. Postbonchodilator spirometry
A patient with an FEV1 of 1.24 L and an FVC of 3.10 L performs the FRC test. The He
concentration between 6 and 6.5 minutes changed by 0.1%, and between 7 and 7.5
minutes changed by 0.08%. The technician correctly concludes equilibration has not
been reached. The most likely explanation is: - ANSWER-a. The patient is malingering
b. The N2 analyzer has malfunctioned
c. The CO2 absorber is contaminated
d. This is consistent with severe airway obstruction
