The Selective and Comprehensive Testing of Adult Pulmonary Function

Abstract

A question addressed by Chusid in the foreward is: Why another book on pulmonary function? As an abundance of knowledge on pulmonary function exists, the book is intended to correlate and summarize data in four areas: the performance of tests, their selection, what can be expected of them, and the equipment used in their performance. To meet this goal, Chusid has solicited contributions from 16 authors (all of whom are well known in the field). The book intentionally omits anatomy, physiology, and other basic information, which Chusid believes are already well covered in other texts. The text consists of 16 chapters arranged into ten sections. Six sections are devoted to the fundamental categories of pulmonary function testing: volumes, lung dynamics, lung and airway mechanics, gas exchange, exercise testing, and the regulation of ventilation. Three other sections discuss pulmonary function testing outside the laboratory, special applications (eg, preoperative evaluations), and computer