Espirometría: Manual de procedimientos. Sociedad Chilena de Enfermedades Respiratorias, 2006

Abstract

Spirometry is a essential test for assessing pulmonary function. This test is frequently used in clinical practice and population studies. Among the several indices derived from forced expiration, forced expiratory volume in the 1st second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC)) are the most commonly used because of good reproducibility, ease of measurement, and correlation with disease stage, functional condition, morbidity and mortality. Considering the importance to apply standardized techniques for measuring spirometric indices, a committee of specialists on pulmonary function from the Chilean Society of Respiratory Diseases, has elaborated this manual of procedures on spirometry. The aim of this manual is to report the international standards for carrying out spirometry, to promote their application in clinical and laboratory practice. Besides a general assent way for interpreting and reporting spirometric values at clinical and at laboratory work is proposed