body plethysmography

Body plethysmography may be used to measure:

In order to measure RV precisely, one would need to perform a test such as nitrogen washout, helium dilution or body plethysmography.

Measurement of static lung volumes using body plethysmography or other techniques typically reveals reduced lung volumes (restriction).

The diagnosis is usually confirmed by pulmonary function testing (e.g. spirometry or body plethysmography); however, X-ray radiography may aid in the diagnosis.

Other tests-such as residual volume, gas diffusion tests, body plethysmography, inhalation challenge tests, and exercise stress tests-may also be done to determine lung function.

Body plethysmography is particularly appropriate for patients who have air spaces which do not communicate with the bronchial tree; in such patients helium dilution would give an incorrectly low reading.

Therefore measurement of the residual volume has to be done via indirect methods such as radiographic planimetry, body plethysmography, closed circuit dilution (including the helium dilution technique) and nitrogen washout.

Pulmonary ventilation may be evaluated using a breathing tube or spirometer, measuring the movement of the chest and abdominal walls using respiratory inductance plethysmography or by isolating the subject in an enclosed metabolic chamber (body plethysmography).