|
|
||||||||
Guest Access | Sign In via User Name/Password |
|||||||||
* From M.C. Townsend Associates (Dr. Townsend), Pittsburgh, PA; Hankinson Consulting (Dr. Hankinson), Valdosta, GA; Department of Internal Medicine (Dr. Lindesmith), Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse, WI; the Department of Medicine (Mr. Slivka), University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA; Latrobe Area Hospital (Mr. Stiver), Latrobe, PA; and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (Mr. Ayres), Pittsburgh, PA.
Correspondence to: Mary C. Townsend, DrPH, M.C. Townsend Associates, 289 Park Entrance Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15228-1824; e-mail: mary.townsend4{at}verizon.net
| Abstract |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Key Words: diagnostic errors forced expiratory flows forced expiratory volume maximal expiratory flow-volume curves peak expiratory flow quality assurance respiratory function tests spirometry
| Introduction |
|---|
|
|
|---|
However, reporting the largest values makes spirometry results highly vulnerable to errors that elevate test results. If erroneously large curves are not recognized and deleted, the inflated values will be saved and reported in the test summary, replacing accurate but lower values from the test. This problem is compounded by the following limitations of many currently available flow-type spirometers: (1) lack of a large real-time display meeting ATS recommendations4 to help technicians detect errors during testing; (2) saving only the largest three curves from a test; and (3) having no mechanism for editing curves recorded earlier in the test session (to delete an earlier erroneous curve, the entire test session must be deleted).
| Examples |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Zero Errors
Flow-type spirometers measure airflow indirectly and then integrate the measured flows over time to obtain volumes. Many flow-type spirometers have pressure sensors, which measure the pressure or pressure drop across a resistance element as air moves through that element, eg, screen, Fleisch, and Pitot tube pneumotachometers. The measured pressure gradient is directly proportional to the air flow through the sensor. Other flow-type spirometers measure the electrical current that must be applied to a hot wire to prevent it from cooling as air flows across it (mass flow spirometer), the rotation of a turbine as air moves across it (turbine spirometer), or the transit time of an ultrasound beam as air passes through a sensor (ultrasonic spirometer).789101112
Before measuring expired air, most flow-type spirometers first measure the pressure gradient (or other signal) that exists when no air is passing through the sensor. Spirometers may be "zeroed" before each expiration, or only once before a test session. During zeroing, the pressure drop (or other signal) corresponding to no airflow is established, setting the intercept of the calibration curve relating flow to pressure drop (or other signal). Errors occur when the transducer or electronics falsely measures a pressure gradient (or other signal) when, in fact, no air is passing through the sensor. The calibration curve is shifted so that airflow is falsely "detected" during the subject test when the measured pressure drop is zero, and all measured flows and volumes are falsely elevated.78 Though zero errors also occur in which no pressure gradient (or other signal) is measured while air is, in fact, passing through the sensor, causing reduced flows and volumes to be measured, this error is beyond the scope of this report.
The spirograms in Figures 1, 2 illustrate zero errors of varying degrees. The spirogram in Figure 1 was produced by zeroing the spirometer before each expiration: curves 1 and 2 show varying zero errors, while the zeroing was apparently accurate in curve 3. Figure 2 presents a more extreme example of a zero error.
|
|
Finally, it is important to note that if the programming of the spirometer prevented editing of previously recorded curves, curves 1 and 2 in Figure 1 could not be deleted after curve 3 was recorded, even if curves 1 and 2 were recognized as flawed. Since the values of curve 1 were the largest recorded, those values were selected for the spirometry summary report. In addition, without a visual display, it would be difficult to recognize this error and delete the curves. In fact, even with an acceptable real-time display and an FVC of 204% of predicted, the spirometry test in Figure 1 was reviewed and accepted by the reviewing physician. A real-time display is only helpful when the viewer is aware of the potential for and the appearance of the zero-error problem.
Obstruction of the Sensor
Flow-type spirometers may use a different sensor for each subject or have one fixed sensor with replacement of filters in front of the sensor for each subject. In either case, sensors may become partially blocked during one subjects repeated blows into one sensor or when a series of subjects exhales into a spirometer with a fixed sensor. Exhaled water vapor can condense onto the sensor, mucus can deposit, or a subjects fingers can partially block the airflow through the sensor. In the case of a pressure-differential pneumotachometer, this blockage causes larger pressure drops to be measured across the resistance element, which are equated to increased flows and integrated to give elevated volumes.
Figure 3 shows an extreme example of probable contamination of the sensor by condensation, mucus deposition, or fingers partially obstructing the sensor. The FVC in curve 8 is 2.29 L larger than the FVC in curve 7, suggesting that the sensor was grossly contaminated by condensation or mucus deposition after the seventh maneuver. (The lead author has produced similar patterns experimentally, by slightly dampening the resistance element with water drops.) When the resistance element is partially blocked, the pressure drops measured across the resistance element throughout the expiration are greatly increased. These large pressure drops correspond to high flows, which when integrated, yield the large volumes seen in Figure 3. The peak expiratory flow (PEF) is 15.9 L/s, which exceeds the ATS instrumentation limit of 14 L/s for accurate flow measurement.4 This very large PEF causes the flow-volume curve to exceed the scale, a characteristic that is not uncommon with moisture and sensor-blockage problems. However, a smaller person could have an inflated PEF that would not exceed the scale, making the problem more difficult to recognize. Finally, the PEF, FVC, and FEV1 are all 130 to 170% of predicted, which is the range that we have seen for many blocked-sensor problems.
|
|
| Effects of Errors on Respiratory Screening Programs |
|---|
|
|
|---|
However, Figure 5
shows that 94 of the 121 men (78%) recorded FEV1 and FVC > 100% of predicted; 40% of the group had FEV1 and FVC > 120% of predicted. The FEV1 percentage of predicted ranged from 64 to 287%: 3 men had FEV1 values
80% of predicted, 22 men had FEV1 values 81 to 100% of predicted, 45 men had FEV1 values 101 to 120% of predicted, and 51 men had FEV1 values > 120% of predicted. The FVC percentage of predicted ranged from 83 to 316%: 16 men had FVC values 81 to 100% of predicted, 40 men had FVC values 101 to 120% of predicted, and 65 men had FVC values > 120% of predicted.
|
| Recommendations |
|---|
|
|
|---|
(1) Spirometry users at all levels, from the technician to the interpreter of the results, should be aware of the potential for and the appearance of these errors in spirograms. Illustrations of zero errors and contaminated sensor errors should be included along with standard figures of cough and early termination,4 so that these errors are included in assessments of technical quality and QA protocols. If QA protocols do not include such errors, users will derive false assurance from having a QA program in place, though errors may occur that the QA protocol is not programmed to detect.
(2) Failure to achieve FEV1 and FVC reproducibility may not be due to the subjects failure to give maximal or consistent efforts, as is often assumed, but may be due to unsuspected technical problems: zero errors (Fig 1), sensor contamination, or blockage (Fig 3, 4), or changing sensor temperature with consecutive maneuvers.13
(3) Spirometry users should query the accuracy of unusually high results, eg, > 120 to 130% predicted, particularly if elevated values appear in clusters or if trends of increasing values are seen over a short time period. Many users already scrutinize graphs for technical errors or equipment failures if the FEV1 and FVC are unexpectedly < 70 to 80% of predicted, since it is generally assumed that spirometry errors reduce test values. However, users tend to be less skeptical of elevated test results, often accepting them at face value.
(4) Subjects with below-average lung function are unlikely to record erroneous results > 120% of predicted; elevating a subjects 90% of predicted to 110% or inflating 70% of predicted to 90% is unlikely to cause suspicions of equipment errors. Therefore, biological calibration checks should be performed with maximal effort at least weekly, more often if large volumes of tests are conducted, and whenever spirometer problems are suspected. Detailed recommendations for using biological controls are included in the National Lung Health Education Program Consensus Statement.14 Unexpected changes in the biological calibration results may signal equipment problems that were not present when the calibration was set or checked.
(5) Real-time displays and printouts that show all curves and that are large enough to meet ATS recommendations and Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards are important for recognizing the errors presented in this report; a limited printout of the single "best curve" is inadequate.145 The zero errors shown in Figures 1, 2 were not flagged by computerized QA indexes, and the sensor contamination problems in Figures 3, 4 were flagged only as nonreproducible curves. If there is no acceptable real-time display available, we recommend printing out curves during the test session to evaluate whether zero errors or blocked-sensor errors are developing, as well as to evaluate subject effort.
(6) Spirometer software should permit earlier curves to be reviewed, and eliminated at least from the summary report. Manufacturers should inform their users of the pitfalls that are peculiar to their spirometers. Very sensitive pressure transducers should be zeroed by completely covering the mouth-end of the sensor, placing the sensor mouth-end down on a tabletop. When the transducer is located in the sensor assembly (eg, in the handle), the sensor should not be tipped or rotated during testing, to avoid zero errors caused by gravitational effects on the transducer. If a zero error is noted, the test should be stopped, and the sensor should be replaced and re-zeroed. Narrow cigar-shaped sensors must be held carefully so that fingers do not occlude the sensor outlet. If one sensor is used for all subjects, it should be cleaned frequently, following manufacturer instructions.
(7) Real-life field testing of spirometers is recommended to identify types of spirometers that will function well, or are inappropriate for use in high-volume testing settings. Testing by an independent laboratory using the ATS 24 standard waveforms and limited human subject testing34 indicates that a spirometer unit worked under ideal laboratory conditions, which is valuable. However, as with routine calibration (or calibration checks), such testing does not guarantee that the changes described in this report will not occur as subjects are tested throughout the day.
| Conclusion |
|---|
|
|
|---|
| Acknowledgements |
|---|
| Footnotes |
|---|
This work was performed at the office of M.C. Townsend Associates, Pittsburgh, PA.
Received for publication January 28, 2003. Accepted for publication October 20, 2003.
| References |
|---|
|
|
|---|
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
G. Liistro, C. Vanwelde, W. Vincken, J. Vandevoorde, G. Verleden, J. Buffels, and on Behalf of the COPD Advisory Board Technical and functional assessment of 10 office spirometers: a multicenter comparative study. Chest, September 1, 2006; 130(3): 657 - 665. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Y. Zhang Using Barrier Filters To Protect Spirometer Sensors From Droplet Deposition Chest, June 1, 2005; 127(6): 2294 - 2294. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. B. Dunning III, M. C. Townsend, J. L. Hankinson, and L. A. Lindesmith Inaccurate Spirometry Results?: Let's Blame It on the Computer! Chest, January 1, 2005; 127(1): 409 - 411. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |