Introduction

A new Pulmonary Function Laboratory (PFT Lab) opened in Naas Hospital in May 2004. It is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to carry out computerised lung function tests. These tests enable the doctor to quantify the level of lung function impairment. Once treatment is commenced, these tests are commonly repeated to assess the level of improvement.

Services

Sleep disordered breathing service
A Sleep disordered breathing service has been established here in Naas hospital. We have the facility to carry out a multi-channel sleep study on patients referred from our outpatient clinics (no direct referrals) with symptoms suggestive of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome.

The laboratory can carry out the following diagnostic tests:
Spirometry / Reversibility
Lung volumes via gas dilution technique and whole body plethysmography
Diffusion capacity/Transfer factor
Respiratory muscle strength measurement
Cardio-pulmonary Exercise Testing
Bronchial Challenge (Histamine)
Impulse Oscillometry
Skin-prick allergy testing
Overnight pulse Oximetry
Multi-channel sleep studies (Limited sevice)
Hypoxic challenge test (Fitness to fly with COPD)
Instructions prior to testing
All outpatients are given timed appointments by letter.Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT’s) and Allergy testing take approximately 40 minutes and bronchial challenge or exercise testing can take up to 2.5 hours. All patients are asked to abstain from taking inhalers on the day of testing if possible. If too breathless to do so, patient should continue to take their inhalers but inform laboratory staff on arrival at appointment.

Referrals

Referrals for PFT’s can be made only through the consultants and their team in Naas Hospital. The referral forms are located in the outpatient examination rooms, on the wards, in the day hospital and in the office in Accident & Emergency

Directions

The PFT Lab is located on Level 2 Outpatients Department (Ground floor). Come into the hospital through the new entrance, turn right into Outpatients just past the coffee shop, and the PFT Lab is through the last door on the left - Room 2532.

Useful Links

Irish Thoracic Society www.irishthoracicsociety.com
Asthma Society of Ireland www.asthmasociety.ie
Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust www.isat.ie
Association of Respiratory
Technology and Physiology www.artp.org.uk
European Respiratory Society www.ersnet.org/ers
American Thoracic Society www.thoracic.org