Respiratory Therapist

Answers: A & B - An FVC of less than (<) 80% predicted could indicate pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, or end-stage COPD.

The FVC is maximum amount of air that the patient can forcefully exhale after a full inhalation. This value decreases in restrictive disease and in advanced obstructive disease cases. Pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis are restrictive pulmonary diseases. Mild COPD and emphysema are not indicated because a decreased FVC is not noted in either disease process. FVC may be decreased in an end-stage COPD patient.