FAQ

Why have a lung function test?

Lung function tests are performed if there is a question about how your lungs are working, i.e. are they functioning as they should be?

Symptoms may include being short of breath, chest tightness (but not necessarily chest pain) or a cough.

These symptoms may suggest there is a change in the way that your lungs are working. A lung function test can help your doctor to make a diagnosis of the symptoms.

What do I need to do for a lung function test?

Most tests are done while you are sitting down. You will be asked to breathe through a mouthpiece (tube) that is attached to the Lung Function equipment.

You will be instructed on how to do each test by a trained Technician. Although the tests are simple, they require maximum effort from you and, depending on your health, they may at times be difficult.

What is a sleep study?

Sleep studies help doctors diagnose sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, periodic limb movement disorder, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome and parasomnias like sleepwalking and REM sleep behaviour disorder. Often these disorders cannot be identified with a normal clinic visit—your doctor needs to gather more conclusive evidence while you're asleep.

Where do I go for a sleep study?

The Burnside Sleep Centre uses state of the art equipment, software and highly trained technicians to ensure quality and accuracy of data that only laboratory testing can provide. Each patient is closely observed for the duration of their sleep study, to ensure precise recording of their data.

The range of testing available at the Burnside Sleep Centre includes:

  • Diagnostic sleep studies

  • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) titration

  • Bi-level PAP (BiPAP) titration

  • Adaptive Servo Ventilation (ASV) titration

  • Oxygen administration and carbon dioxide monitoring

  • Multiple Sleep Latency Testing (MSLT)

  • Maintenance of Wakefulness Tests (MWT)

What do I need to know about a Bronchoscopy?

A bronchoscopy is an evaluation of the respiratory system, including voice box (larynx), wind pipe (trachea) and the airways (bronchi) to see if there are signs of any abnormality. It allows your doctor to visually examine your air passages to diagnose lung conditions such as cancer, pneumonia, interstitial lung disease and other conditions. The bronchoscope’s camera provides images of your airways and lungs on a colour TV monitor.

If your doctor finds abnormal growths, secretions or blood during the exam, he or she may take a sample for further testing in the lab. It usually takes 48 to 72 hours to receive lab results, so your doctor will contact you at that time to discuss the findings with you.

Because the exam requires an empty stomach, you will not be allowed to eat or drink for six hours prior to the procedure.

For your safety, we require that someone provides you a ride home after a bronchoscopy. A nurse will ask the name and phone number of the person picking you up. If you don’t have an appropriate ride home, your procedure will need to be rescheduled or you will be admitted overnight in hospital for observation.

You’ll be given specific instructions before you go home, but in most cases we recommend you don’t drive, operate machinery, work or exercise the remainder of the day after your procedure. You may experience a low-grade fever or cough up a small volume of blood.

If you experience any of the following, call your doctor or go to the emergency room right away:

  • Heavy bleeding

  • Severe chest or abdominal pain

  • Trouble breathing

  • High fever (Temperature > 38 degrees Celcius)

  • Nausea or vomiting

What is a Chest Drain?

A chest drain is a small tube, which is inserted into the space around your lung, to lie between the lung and the inside of the chest wall. This area is called the pleural space.

Fluid or air has collected in your pleural space which should not be there. This is called a pleural effusion (fluid) or pneumothorax (air). Either of these can cause problems with breathing and can stop the lungs working properly. The chest tube will allow this fluid or air to leave the body.

Once a chest drain is inserted, it is connected to a bottle which contains clean water. The air or fluid in your chest then travels down the tube, into the bottle and into the water. This acts as a seal, preventing air or fluid from coming up the tube and back into your chest. It may take several days for the fluid/air to drain completely.

Local anaesthetic is injected into the skin before the drain is put in, so that you do not feel the drain going in. Most people get some pain from their chest drain after it is inserted. Please let your doctor or nurse if this happens and painkillers can be given to control this.