Respiratory physiology

The respiratory physiology service at Wye Valley NHS Trust provides a service in respiratory, exercise and sleep physiology, for inpatients and outpatients from the Trust.

The department provides a comprehensive range of investigations in order to:

• Aid diagnosis
• Give an objective assessment of how a condition affects the patient’s functionally
• Display and define the contribution of any secondary condition
• Monitor improvement with treatment or deterioration with time 

Investigations are performed on patients with various types of lung disease, cardiac and oesophageal conditions and, on occasions, patients being considered for non-thoracic surgery when their cardio-pulmonary state gives cause for concern.

Patients are assessed prior to heart and/or lung transplantation and have regular postoperative lung function tests to monitor their progress and to help detect, as early as possible, any deterioration in the functional state of the lungs due to either episode of infection or rejection.

All patients are treated as individuals, with care and attention in order to alleviate any fears or apprehensions they may have.

All relevant procedures are fully explained to each patient so that maximum co-operation is gained in order that each investigation is performed to the best of their ability.

This enables the department to continue to produce high-quality reports and maintain its standard of results.
A clinical interpretation of results for non-respiratory specialisms is made by the Senior Physiologists / Clinical Scientists and the report is then uploaded to the patient records. 

What do we do?

The department carries out a wide range of basic and specialist respiratory investigations and therapeutic assessments including:

• Full cardio-pulmonary exercise testing
• Field exercise testing (Six minute walk test)
• Basic inpatient and outpatient sleep studies
• Bronchial challenge testing
• Measurements of dynamic and static lung volumes
• Hydrogen breath test
• Bronchodilator response
• Respiratory gas exchange
• Muscle function studies
• Blood gas analysis
• Inpatient CPAP titration and support
• Inpatient and urgent NIV titration and support