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Respiratory Medicine guides
31 plain-English, evidence-linked guides in Respiratory Medicine, with clinical review status shown on each page.
Asthma assessment and biologic therapy (Severe asthma assessment and biologic (monoclonal antibody) treatment)A specialist assessment to confirm severe asthma and decide whether a targeted injected medicine (a biologic) is suitable, then ongoing treatment to reduce attacks and steroid use.Body plethysmography (lung volume test) (Body plethysmography)A breathing test done inside a clear, sealed booth that measures the total amount of air your lungs can hold, including air left behind after breathing out.Bronchial and transbronchial biopsy (Bronchial biopsy and transbronchial lung biopsy)Taking small tissue samples from inside the airways, or from the surrounding lung, during a bronchoscopy so they can be examined under a microscope.Bronchial challenge (provocation) test (Bronchial challenge testing (e.g. methacholine, mannitol or exercise provocation))A specialist breathing test that uses a controlled trigger to see whether your airways are unusually 'twitchy', which can help confirm or rule out asthma when other tests are unclear.Bronchoscopy (Flexible bronchoscopy)A test that lets a respiratory physician look inside your airways with a thin camera and, if needed, take small samples to find the cause of a lung problem.Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) (Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET / CPEX))A monitored exercise test on a bike or treadmill, while your breathing and heart are measured, to assess how well your heart, lungs and muscles work together — often before major surgery or to investigate breathlessness.Chest X-ray (Chest radiograph (CXR))A quick, very low-dose imaging test that takes a picture of your lungs, heart, ribs and diaphragm to help investigate chest symptoms.COPD management (Management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD))Ongoing care to ease breathlessness, reduce flare-ups and slow the progress of COPD, using inhalers, stopping smoking, exercise and other treatments.CPAP therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea (Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy)A long-term treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea that uses a small pump and mask to deliver gently pressurised air, keeping the airway open during sleep.CT chest scan (Computed tomography of the thorax (CT thorax))A detailed scan that uses X-rays and a computer to build cross-section pictures of the lungs, airways, heart, blood vessels and chest tissues.CT-guided lung biopsy (CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic lung biopsy)A test where a doctor uses CT scan pictures to guide a needle through the chest wall and take a small sample from a lung abnormality, usually to find out what it is.Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) (Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA))A camera test that uses ultrasound from inside the airways to find and take samples from lymph glands and areas in the centre of the chest, often to investigate or stage lung cancer.FeNO test (exhaled nitric oxide) (Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) test)A simple breathing test that measures a gas in your breath to look for a type of inflammation in the airways linked to asthma.Full lung function tests (gas transfer) (Full lung function testing including gas transfer (transfer factor, TLCO/DLCO))A set of detailed breathing tests, including how well oxygen passes from the lungs into the blood, used to build a fuller picture of lung function.Home oxygen assessment (Home oxygen assessment (including assessment for long-term and ambulatory oxygen therapy))An assessment, including blood oxygen tests, to find out whether home oxygen would genuinely help you and, if so, how much and when to use it.Home sleep study (Home respiratory polygraphy (cardiorespiratory sleep study))An overnight test done in your own bed that records breathing, oxygen levels, heart rate and effort, used mainly to diagnose obstructive sleep apnoea.In-laboratory sleep study (Polysomnography (attended in-laboratory sleep study))A detailed overnight test in a sleep unit that records brain waves, breathing, oxygen, heart rate and movement to diagnose sleep apnoea and other sleep disorders.Inhaler technique review (Inhaler technique review and optimisation)A short appointment where a clinician watches how you use your inhalers and helps you correct any mistakes, so more of the medicine reaches your lungs.Interstitial lung disease assessment (Assessment for interstitial lung disease (ILD))A set of tests and specialist review to find out whether you have interstitial lung disease (scarring or inflammation of the lung tissue), which type, and how to manage it.Investigation of a long-lasting cough (Investigation of chronic cough)The appointments and tests used to find out why a cough has lasted eight weeks or more, and to rule out serious causes.Investigation of breathlessness (Investigation of breathlessness (dyspnoea))The appointments and tests used to find out why you feel short of breath, which can come from the lungs, the heart or other causes.Lung cancer diagnosis and staging (Diagnosis and staging of lung cancer)The set of tests used to find out whether a lung problem is cancer and, if it is, how far it has spread, so the right treatment can be planned.Management of bronchiectasis (Management of bronchiectasis (non-cystic fibrosis))Ongoing care to clear mucus, reduce chest infections and protect the lungs in bronchiectasis, using airway clearance, exercise, vaccinations and antibiotics for flare-ups.Overnight pulse oximetry (Overnight pulse oximetry (nocturnal oximetry))A simple overnight test that records the oxygen level in your blood and your pulse while you sleep, used to screen for breathing problems such as sleep apnoea.Peak flow monitoring (Peak expiratory flow (PEF) monitoring)Using a small handheld device to measure how fast you can blow air out, usually tracked over days or weeks to help spot and monitor asthma.Pleural aspiration (chest drain) (Pleural aspiration (thoracocentesis))A procedure to remove fluid (or sometimes air) from the space between the lung and the chest wall, to ease breathlessness and to find out what is causing the build-up.Pulmonary rehabilitation (Pulmonary rehabilitation programme)A 6–8 week programme of supervised exercise and education for people with a long-term lung condition, to improve fitness, ease breathlessness and build confidence.Respiratory consultation (Respiratory medicine specialist consultation)An appointment with a lung specialist to assess breathing symptoms such as cough or breathlessness, work out the cause, and plan any tests or treatment.Reversibility testing (Bronchodilator reversibility (BDR) testing with spirometry)A breathing test that measures your lung function before and after a reliever inhaler, to see whether narrowed airways open up — which helps diagnose asthma.Six-minute walk test (Six-minute walk test (6MWT))A simple test that measures how far you can walk on a flat surface in six minutes, used to assess exercise capacity in heart and lung conditions and to track changes over time.Spirometry (lung function test) (Spirometry)A common breathing test that measures how much air you can breathe out and how fast, to help diagnose and monitor lung conditions.
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