The lung function unit at Royal Brompton Hospital offers a large number of respiratory tests for inpatients, outpatients, direct referrals from GPs and other hospitals. For most patients, these tests will take about one hour to complete.
The department provides a comprehensive range of investigations in order to:
- Aid diagnosis
- Provide an objective assessment of how a disease/condition affects the patient functionally
- Display and define the contribution of any secondary condition
- Monitor improvement with treatment or in deterioration with time
- Help differentiate dyspnoea due to heart disease from that originating in the lungs
- Provide information with the assessment of claims in industrial disabilities and in legal proceedings
We are able to perform a large number of respiratory and oesophageal tests. We test inpatients, outpatients, direct referrals from GPs and from other hospitals (NHS and private patients).
We carry out about 14,000 tests every year. About 8,000 of these are routine lung function tests and include transfer factor tests, lung volumes and airways resistance measurements using the body plethysmograph and flow volume loops.
All routine tests are performed using bacterial/viral filters, which prevent any risk of cross-contamination.
We also perform many other special tests, including:
- alveolar dead space tests
- anatomical shunts
- blood gases using the ear-lobe sampling technique
- bronchodilator studies
- exercise tests
- fitness to dive studies
- fitness to fly studies
- hyperventilation tests
- lung compliance
- oesophageal pH tests (ambulatory)
- oesophageal motility testing
- provocation tests
- pulmonary blood flow measurements
- sleep studies (screen and full polysomnographic)
The lung function test results and a report, if required, will usually be available almost immediately after the tests have been completed. These results can be given to the patient or can be sent on if preferred.
Any patient that is referred to our department will need to have an appointment booked and prior to the scheduled appointment date, we will need a referral letter or a duly completed request form informing us of the patient's clinical history, the tests required and any other relevant information (infectious status etc.)
Contact details
Address: Fulham Wing / South Block
Phone: +44 (0)20 7351 8910
Fax: +44 (0)20 7351 8080
Address: Lung function unit, Fulham Wing/South Block, Royal Brompton Hospital, Dovehouse Street, London SW3 6JY
For information about how to get here, including public transport and parking information, visit our Royal Brompton Hospital directions page.