Peak Flow Meter: A Vital Tool for Lung Assessment

Introduction

The peak flow meter is an essential device in our medical kit, allowing us to measure lung capacity and assess breathing effectiveness.

Common Uses

The peak flow meter is frequently employed with patients experiencing conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, lymphedema, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Components

The meter comprises a **mouthpiece** for air entry into the airway measuring system, alongside an external **scale** measuring the blown air volume.

There are two types of mouthpieces available: a disposable cardboard tube, and a clean, sterile, reusable mouthpiece, with the former being more commonly used for contamination control.

Procedure

When using the peak flow meter, the patient must create a seal around the cardboard tube, ensuring their tongue and teeth do not obstruct the inlet valve.

The patient then takes a deep breath and exhales forcefully into the meter, with the needle registering the lung capacity and force.

This process is repeated three times, with the highest score of the three tests recorded as the baseline lung capacity.

Monitoring and Treatment

The baseline lung capacity serves as a reference for monitoring treatment effectiveness. After administering medication or nebulization, the peak flow readings should show improvement.

In cases of severe breathing distress, immediate treatment takes priority over peak flow readings. Once the patient's condition stabilizes, the readings can be performed and documented.