Respiratory therapy
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Respiratory therapy · Sep 1984
Ventilatory and nonventilatory muscle exercise in COPD rehabilitation.
For maximum benefit, a rehabilitation program for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should include both ventilatory and nonventilatory muscle exercise. The 12-week, outpatient program at Malden (Mass) Hospital incorporates whole-body exercise (walking), inspiratory resistive loading, and use of supplemental oxygen. ⋯ A cardiopulmonary exercise test, 12-minute walk, and endurance test provide the before and after rehabilitation testing protocol. Such a program can be implemented at a community hospital where most patients with COPD have their greatest access to medical care.
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Computerization of pulmonary function testing is forcing rewrites of time-honored protocols and shifting responsibilities from technician to machine. Spirometry, in particular, has become a diagnostic test virtually free of manual measurements and calculations; computerization even provides interpretation of the results. Along with these improvements, computerized spirometry also raises questions regarding reference values, interpretive criteria, and standardization.
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Successful application of computers in the pulmonary laboratory depends on many factors. The question no longer seems to be whether to have a computer but how to apply it in the most effective manner. Three main steps are involved in the application process: part 1 will examine selection of the computer and of the tasks that it must perform, and part 2 will discuss programming and validation.