Cosmed Quark PFT, Manual

Page: 87 / 148

Chapter 9 - Lung diffusing capacity - 87
DLCO without apnoea (“intrabreath” method)
1. Remove the sampling line from the flowmeter
2. Select
Single Breath CO diffusing capacity from the Test menu
3. Confirm or in case change the test options:
- Breath hold time (deselect the check box)
- Simulated test (it allows to carry out the manoeuvre without inhaling gas, useful
for teaching purposes)
- Hb (haemoglobin)
- Anatomic dead space
4. Wait for the zeroing of the analyser is completed and plug in again the sampling
line in the flowmeter
5. Connect the Patient to the mouthpiece and let her/him breathing at rest until the
message “Carry out Vital Capacity” is prompted
6. Carry out a Slow Vital Capacity if desired (this is not necessary for completing the
DLCO test)
7. Invite the Patient to exhale up to Residual Volume and press F2 during the
maximal expiration
8. Coach the Patient to inhale up to Total Lung Capacity and to expire slowly
maintaining the flow rates within the two target lines shown on the real-time
window until the Vital Capacity has been exhaled.
A dashed line indicates the 90% of the Best Vital Capacity (if a FVC or SVC test is
available in the archive, otherwise it indicates the 90% of the Predicted VC), in order to
verify the correctness of the manoeuvre.
Double-click with the left mouse button in order to modify the test options (wash-out
volume, sampling volume, calculation of the real apnoea time…).
Multiple breath DLCO test (“Steady-State” method)
In this test, the patient breathes regularly during the whole test (about 8 min): graphs
and results will be displayed breath by breath.
Normally, during the first 2 minutes the patient inhales ambient air, then such a mixture:
0.1% CO, 0.1% CH4, 21% O2, N2 balance.
1. Remove the sampling line from the flowmeter
2. Select
CO diffusing capacity steady state from the Test menu
4. Wait for the zeroing of the analyser is completed and plug in again the sampling
line in the flowmeter
5. Connect the Patient to the mouthpiece and let her/him breathing at rest until the
message “Carry out Vital Capacity” is prompted
6. Carry out a Slow Vital Capacity if desired (this is not necessary for completing the
DLCO test)
7. While the patient is exhaling, press F2 in order to start the mixture
8. When the steady state is reached, press F3 to end the test.
Right-clicking you can generate new graphs and parameters to be displayed, both during
the test and at the end.