Lung Volume Studies

Also known as: pulmonary function tests.

What are lung volume studies?

Lung volume studies measure breathing and how well the lungs are functioning. They can be used to help diagnose a number of different medical conditions.

What happens during the procedure?

The precise nature of the lung volume study will vary depending on which test is performed. In one test, known as body plethysmography, the patient sits inside a booth and breathes in and out of a mouthpiece. The air pressure inside the booth is measured. Other tests use a separate chamber attached to the mouthpiece to determine lung volume.
 

Is any special preparation needed? 

No special preparation is needed for the test.
 

What are the risk factors?

There are no risks related to this test.

Reviewed by: Antonio Rodriguez, MD

This page was last updated on: January 19, 2022 03:01 PM