Relazione tra esame obiettivo del torace e tests funzionali respiratori

To evaluate the relationship among adventitious lung sounds, reduction of normal breath sound, hyperphonesis and impairment of lung function tests, 145 patients were submitted to an accurate chest examination and to lung function tests (static and dynamic spirometry, airway resistance, intrathoracic gas volume). 118 patients were affected by chronic bronchitis or emphysema or bronchial asthma, 27, had other lung dlseases. The most frequent findings were: reduction or absence of normal breath sound (66%), hyperphonesis (42%), expiratory wheeze (42%).% predicted mean values were 50±27% for FEV, and 131±34%for RVIT!-C.Sig- nificantly different lung function tests were found by variance analysis according to presence of objective findings (in particular, reduction ot normal breath sound, hyperphonesis, PAROLE CHIAVE prolonged expiration and expiratory wheeze). The Chi square test demonstrated that inspiratory musical sounds, reduction of normal breath sound and hyperphonesis were significantly related among themselves by Chi square test. A combined analysis of expiratory wheeze and reduction of normal breath sound showed that functional respiratory indices were significantly different in the various categories: FEV, was 39% in patients with ali the forementioned signs and 72% in patients with no sign. The corresponding RVITLCvalues were 139 and 108%.Our study suggests that there is a good association between lung function tests and chest èxamination. The usefulness of a detailed study of these findings with a computerized spectral analysis is mentioned.