Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT), In Office, In Las Vegas

Pulmonary function testing, usually shortened to PFT, measures how well your lungs move air in and out, how big they are, and how efficiently they transfer oxygen into the bloodstream. It is the objective backbone of pulmonary medicine. Without it, we are guessing at severity from symptoms alone, and symptoms are unreliable: some people minimize what's limiting them, others sense changes long before they show up on a test.

What we offer in office

Our clinic performs PFT on site. That includes spirometry (the most common test), and depending on clinical need and equipment, lung volume and diffusion capacity testing. Pre- and post-bronchodilator testing is performed when indicated, which is often the test that confirms or excludes asthma. Performing the test at the clinic means results are interpreted by your pulmonologist the same day in many cases, and the documentation goes directly into your record without a multi-week back- and-forth between separate facilities.

What the test feels like

You'll sit upright with a nose clip on, take a deep breath in, and blow out as hard and as long as you can into a mouthpiece. The technician will coach you through several attempts to get an accurate measurement. The test is not painful. It is tiring, most people are surprised at how much effort a full forced exhalation actually takes, and we build in rest breaks. Plan on roughly 30 to 60 minutes at the clinic.

PFT for federal workers' comp claims

For DOL/OWCP and DEEOIC patients, we document PFT findings to program standards. This includes the technical quality of the maneuvers, the measured and predicted values, interpretation, and the clinical context your claims examiner needs. Performing the test, interpreting it, and documenting it in one clinic is faster and more defensible than stitching reports together from three places.

How to prepare

On the day of your test, don't smoke for at least an hour beforehand if you smoke. Avoid heavy meals immediately before. Wear comfortable clothing that doesn't restrict your chest. We will give you guidance on whether to hold inhalers before testing, that depends on the specific question being asked.