A pulmonary function test involves a series of breathing tests that measure how well your lungs exchange air, and absorb oxygen into your blood, and how exercise affects your lungs. 

What Are the Types of PFTs? 

The tests include: 

• Spirometry: This test measures how much air you can inhale and exhale and how much air is in your lungs. 

• Lung volumes or body plethysmography: This test measures the various amounts of air that are in your lungs after different points of inhalation and exhalation. 

• Gas diffusion study: this study measures how much oxygen and other gases transform from your lungs to your blood. 

• Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET): this study measures how well your heart, lungs, and muscles work when you are exercising. 

Why Do You Need PFT? 

Your doctor may recommend PFT if you have: 

• Chest tightness, pressure, or pain. 

• Excessive coughing with mucus or phlegm. 

• Difficulty breathing. 

• Shortness of breath. 

• Wheezing. 

• Asthma 

• COPD. 

Thoracentesis is a procedure that takes fluid out from around your lungs or pleural space. A pleural space in your lungs is an area outside the lungs but inside your chest wall. 

Why Do You Need Thoracentesis? 

You may need thoracentesis, if you have: 

• Infection. 

• Cancer. 

• Pneumonia. 

• Congestive heart failure. 

• Tuberculosis. 

• Kidney or liver disease. 

What Happens During a Thoracentesis? 

During the procedure, your doctor will: 

• Connect you to machines to monitor your heart rate and other vital signs. 

• Place a tube in your nose or mask. 

• Clean your back and numb the area with a local anaesthetic. 

• Make a small incision and insert a needle between your ribs to drain fluid.  

• Attach a tube to the needle to drain fluid from your body. 

• Remove the needle and close the incision. 

What Happens After a Thoracentesis? 

After a thoracentesis, your doctor will run an X-ray to be sure that fluid is completely removed from the lungs. You may experience coughing which will be normal.  

What Are the Risks Associated with Thoracentesis? 

Although rare, the possible risks include: 

• Bleeding. 

• Infection. 

• Collapsed lung. 

• Pulmonary oedema. 

Tracheostomy or tracheotomy is a surgical procedure that makes an opening in your neck into the trachea to open the airway and let you breathe. 

Why Do You Need a Tracheostomy? 

You may need a tracheostomy if you have: 

• Have a blockage in your upper airway. 

• Have difficulty swallowing. 

• Have trouble breathing due to injury or other lung conditions. 

• An airway reconstruction surgery. 

• A need for mechanical ventilation. 

What Happens During a Tracheostomy? 

During the procedure, your surgeon will: 

• Give you general anaesthesia. 

• Make an incision in your neck, below Adam’s apple to enter your trachea or windpipe. 

• Open the hole wide enough to insert the tracheostomy tube. 

• Secure the tube with a band around your neck. 

• Hook your tracheostomy tube to a ventilator if you are unable to breathe on your own. 

What Happens After a Tracheostomy? 

After the procedure, you will be moved to a recovery area. Our medical team will monitor your progress. You may be required to stay in the hospital for a few days or weeks after the surgery. 

What Are the Risks Associated with a Tracheostomy? 

Like any surgical procedure, a tracheostomy may also cause possible risks, including: 

• Infection. 

• Bleeding. 

• Damage to the oesophagus. 

• Damage to your windpipe or trachea. 

• Blood clots. 

• Mucuos.