Pulmonology is the branch of medical sciences that deals with the study of the respiratory system. It also covers the study of the normal physiology of our respiratory system, diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract, and the treatment of these diseases based on clinical and laboratory diagnosis.
The respiratory system, as we all know, begins in the nasal cavity and includes the nasopharynx, trachea, and bronchi until the alveoli are present in the lungs. Actual gaseous exchange occurs between the membranes of alveoli and blood vessels. The proper functioning of our respiratory system is based on the proper anatomy of the respiratory tract and the fact that the lifestyle of human beings greatly affects the normal physiology of the lungs and the rest of the respiratory tract.
Oxygen, a must for human life, is supplied to our bodies by the respiratory system.
Oxygen is something we can’t live without. We need oxygen at the metabolic level to provide us with the fuel that we need for all the functions in our bodies. Lungs are the organs that are responsible for oxygen supply. This oxygen then reaches the tissue level and serves as a source of metabolic reactions occurring everywhere in the human body.
Diagnosis of lung diseases
Over time, when we strain our lungs too much, the oxygenation becomes poor, resulting in a gradual decline in organ function. This happens in many diseases of the lungs. Some of the diseases require prompt diagnosis and treatment and can threaten life if we don’t take timely action.
Lung volumes are always evaluated whenever a patient enters a pulmonologist’s room. By lung volumes, we mean tidal volume, total lung capacity, dead space, etc. These tests give us a holistic picture of the lung condition due to which a patient seeks medical help. Apart from the lung volumes that are measured by a spirometer, pulse oximetry, and simply the respiratory rates, they tell us the picture of the disease.
Pulse oximetry
Pulse oximetry is a simple test with which we check the oxygen saturation of the lungs. It is a digital device that gives the level of oxygen saturation in the blood at any given time. Normal oxygen saturation is 100% and, ideally, must be maintained at this level. Patients with an oxygen saturation of less than 90 are critical and need prompt attention.
Pulse oximetry is done in every ward, ER, and ICU everywhere in the hospital, and proper charts are maintained for its evaluation. Sometimes it is measured along with the vital signs.
Pulse oximetry tracker
As mentioned earlier, the oxygen saturation of patients is measured at regular intervals, especially for indoor patients, postoperative patients after anesthesia, and patients coming to the emergency room after accidents or severe injuries.
So, a proper record is maintained, like the vital records, and is evaluated at regular intervals. Low oxygen saturation at any point in time needs attention and quick management. The pulse oximetry tracker contains the name of the patient and the percentage of oxygen saturation at any given time. Some columns are assigned for the time below which the values are written.
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