Spirometers

A spirometry test may be advised before undergoing a planned surgery to check if a patient’s lung function is adequate to endure the operation. Spirometry may also be used to screen for occupational-related lung diseases.

Overall, spirometry is a low-risk test. However, some short-term effects of doing a spirometry test include feeling dizzy or experiencing shortness of breath. These symptoms should pass shortly after completing the test.

The measurements from a spirometry test will be compared with a normal result for someone of the patient’s age, height and sex. This will allow healthcare professionals to recognise if the results are abnormal and if treatment may be required. The results will also show whether any lung problem is obstructive, restrictive or a combination of the two.

Patients should be strongly advised not to smoke within 24 hours of the test and should also avoid eating a large meal or exercising a few hours before the test. If the patient decides to do so, this may affect their breathing and therefore the results. They should also wear loose clothing to ensure their chest doesn’t feel restricted.

To perform a spirometry test, a spirometer must be used. The patient should be advised to put on nose clips and to inhale as much air as possible into their lungs. They will then need to exhale as quickly as possible to empty their lungs of any air. The patient will be asked to repeat this three times to ensure their results are relatively consistent.

The quality of a spirometer can hugely impact the reliability of a spirometry test. A poor-quality spirometer can lead to false-positive or false-negative diagnoses. No matter how many times a patient does a test, if the equipment used is not highly accurate, there is no validity to the test results. If you want to avoid diagnostic errors, we recommend the KoKo Sx 1000 Spirometer. The Sx 1000 has ultra-low breathing resistance which significantly lowers the risk of false results. Low breathing resistance also decreases the chance of the patient having re-breathing issues. The KoKo Sx 1000 has been independently validated to exceed published guidelines and has performed over 50 million spirometry tests.

An effective spirometer should also be ergonomically designed. When performing a spirometry test, it is normal for patients to feel anxious before the test as well as light-headed after the test. Therefore, an ergonomically designed spirometer will enhance overall patient satisfaction as it encourages the patient to feel more comfortable. The KoKo SX 1000 has an elliptical mouthpiece/filter which makes it easier for the patient to exhale into the spirometer. A user-friendly handle is also beneficial to help the patient feel at ease and able to focus more on their breathing than anything else.

Other factors to consider when purchasing a spirometer include: