Approach to selection of PFTs in a patient with dyspnea

An efficient stepwise method of determining the cause of chronic dyspnea using pulmonary function tests.

FEV₁: forced expiratory volume in one second; FVC: forced vital capacity; VC: vital capacity; DLCO: diffusing capacity; WNL: within normal limits; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; PImax: maximal inspiratory pressure; PEmax: maximal expiratory pressure.

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