Spirometry tests by measuring how much air is inhaled, how much exhaled and how quickly a patient exhales. The test involves blowing into a tube with force a minimum of three times.

Why it is done?
Spirometry is used to diagnose asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other conditions that affect breathing. It may also be used periodically to monitor your lung condition for work assessments and monitoring and check whether a treatment for a chronic lung condition is helping you breathe better.

A doctor may suggest a spirometry test if they suspect signs or symptoms may be caused by a chronic lung condition such as:

• Asthma
• COPD
• Chronic bronchitis
• Emphysema
• Pulmonary fibrosis

If you have already been diagnosed with a chronic lung disorder, spirometry may be used periodically to check how well medications are working and whether your breathing problems are under control by regular testing or doing a Ventolin Challenge test.

Spirometry may be ordered before a planned surgery to check lung function is adequate for the anaesthetic of an operation.  Additionally, spirometry may be used to screen for occupational-related lung disorders such as Asbestos exposure.

Preparation for your test

Prior to having this test you need to have stopped your reliever (Ventolin, respigen, salbutamol etc.) at least 6 hours prior to your appointment.

If you are on a preventer (Flixotide, Seretide, Symbicort, Spiriva etc.) you need to have stopped this at least 12 hours prior to your appointment.

You need to bring your inhalers with you to your appointment and a list of any other medications you may be taking.  The nurse also needs to know if you have had/have a cold or blocked nose as this can affect the outcome.

Make sure you also tell the nurse if you have any other medical conditions such as a heart condition high blood pressure that may cause an issue during testing.

The procedure generally takes about 45 minutes – 1 hour to complete but may take longer.

Your spirometry test will be explained fully to you before you have it done, and you will have an opportunity to ask questions.

Zoledronate (also known as Zoledronic acid or Aclasta) is the most potent medicine in the bisphosphonate class currently available. Bisphosphonates work by preventing resorption of bone by inhibiting the function of bone-dissolving cells called osteoclasts. Bisphosphonates are licensed in New Zealand for the treatment of osteoporosis and Paget’s disease, and are also used for preventing some forms of cancer from spreading in bone.

Zoledronate is given by an intravenous infusion (into a vein in the arm via a “drip”) over about 15-30 minutes. Zoledronate increases the bone density in patients with osteoporosis, to about the same extent as other medicines such as Alendronate (Fosamax), and is effective at reducing fracture rates, by 35-70%.

The main side effect from the use of Zolendronate is flu like illness, consisting of muscle aches and fever. This occurs in up to 30% of people who take it. This usually comes on within 24 hours of the infusion and seldom lasts more than three days. In most cases it is mild, though some individuals can feel significantly unwell for a few days. If this occurs, you should take some Paracetamol or other anti-inflammatory medicine for the duration of the symptoms. The great majority of individuals don’t have any such symptoms. Some individuals with pre-existing kidney damage have seen deterioration in their kidney function after the use of Zolendronate. It is not clear that this is related to Zolendronate itself, but it is normal practice not to use this medicine in people whose kidneys are not functioning well.

Other than flu-like symptoms after the first infusion, side effects from Zoledronate treatment are uncommon, and are in general no different from placebo-treated patients in randomised trials. It should be remembered that major fractures can be very dangerous, so this should be balanced against the small risk of ill effects from treatments.

Treatment is usually accompanied by vitamin D tablets given at the time of the infusion, to help keep blood calcium levels normal. Calcium tablets are not normally recommended.

 Side effects of Zoledronate include:

• About 30% of individuals may experience a flu-like feeling after their first treatment, which usually last 24-72 hours, but which can occasionally go on for longer, sometimes with associated muscle or joint aching.  This usually responds well to regular Paracetamol or an anti-inflammatory such as Nurofen or Diclofenac.  The chance of this side-effect occurring after second or third Zoledronate infusions is much lower (about 3-4%).
• Individuals with severe pre-existing kidney damage can sometimes experience deterioration in their kidney function after the administration of Zoledronate.  It is normal practice not to use Zoledronate in people whose kidneys are not functioning well.
• Very rarely, drugs in the bisphosphonate class can cause eye inflammation.
• Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ulceration in tooth sockets or the gums).

Unproven side effects with Zoledronate include:

• Atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm noted by one group of overseas investigations but not seen in any other clinical trials).
• Upper leg fractures (Reported in isolated cases by doctors in Singapore and the USA, but not clearly related to bisphosphonate therapy).

A few day after your infusion you will need to have a blood test to check that your kidneys and calcium levels have remained stable.

If you have any other questions about this medicine, or your bone condition, contact your Family Doctor.

If you are a Ferinject patient and require an infusion click here to download the information leaflet.

Click here to download the referral form.

If your Doctor gives you a lab form to get tests done, you need to take that form to Awanui Labs for these to be done. You can see the Collection Centres here. Your test result is then sent to the Urgent Care clinic and a copy will also go to your family GP, if you have listed this when you came to see us.

If the result requires urgent action, you will be phoned immediately by our Urgent Care staff. If results require follow up but not urgently, you will be contacted so that you can then go to see your GP for follow up. If your results are normal, you will NOT receive any notification, unless this was specified at the time you saw the Urgent Care Doctor.