A piece of equipment that measures the maximum speed at which air can flow out of the lungs. A peak-flow meter is useful in assessing the severity of bronchospasm, and is most commonly used to diagnose asthma, monitor patients with asthma, and assess response to asthma treatment. The peak flow is measured by taking a deep breath and breathing out with maximum effort through the mouthpiece.
A device that measures the rate at which an individual can expel air from the LUNGS. This is an indication of the reserve in the capacity of the lungs. Narrowed airways (bronchospasm) slow the rate at which air can be expelled; the peak ?ow meter can assess the severity of the condition. ASTHMA causes bronchospasm and the device can measure the e?ectiveness of treatment with BRONCHODILATOR drugs; this should be done regularly to monitor the progress of the disease.
(FFR) a technique used to quantify the severity of a coronary artery narrowing. During *cardiac catheterization, a specialized wire is passed down the coronary artery to measure pressure. The ratio of the pressure measured downstream of the narrowing to the pressure measured upstream is derived (this ratio also applies to coronary flow). When the ratio is below a certain threshold, flow restriction by the narrowing is deemed to be significant and *percutaneous coronary intervention is likely to be beneficial.... fractional flow reserve
(PEFR) the maximum rate at which a person can forcibly expel air from the lungs at any time, expressed usually in litres per minute (occasionally in litres per second). A low value can help diagnose asthma in the correct clinical context, and differences between the morning and evening values can also be a feature of poor control of asthma. There is a place for PEFR in the monitoring of acute exacerbations of chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD) but not in the diagnosis of COPD.... peak expiratory flow rate
Health Encyclopedia