Last updated: 02/17/2009

The patient should inform the physician of any medications he or she is taking, or of any medical conditions that are present; these factors may affect the validity of the test. The patient's smoking habits and history should be thoroughly documented....

The patient must be able to understand and respond to instructions for the breathing maneuvers. Therefore, the test may not be appropriate for very young, unresponsive, or physically impaired persons.

Spirometry is contraindicated in patients whose condition will be aggravated by forced breathing, including:

• hemoptysis (spitting up blood from the lungs or bronchial tubes)
• pneumothorax (free air or gas in the pleural cavity)
• recent heart attack
• unstable angina
• aneurysm (cranial, thoracic, or abdominal)
• thrombotic condition (such as clotting within a blood vessel)
• recent thoracic or abdominal surgery
• nausea or vomiting

The test should be terminated if the patient shows signs of significant head, chest, or abdominal pain while the procedure is in progress.

Spirometry is dependent upon the patient's full compliance with breathing instructions, especially his or her willingness to extend a maximal effort at forced breathing. Therefore, the patient's emotional state must be considered.