Cough Reflex Test Practice 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

Peak flow monitoring is a widely used method for evaluating the efficacy of bronchodilators in patients with respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This technique involves measuring the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), which indicates the maximum speed at which a person can exhale air from their lungs.

When a bronchodilator is administered, it relaxes and opens the airways, and patients are often asked to perform peak flow measurements before and after the treatment. The change in PEFR can provide direct evidence of the bronchodilator's effectiveness. An increase in the peak flow value post-treatment suggests that the bronchodilator has successfully improved airway patency and airflow.

Other options, such as pulse oximetry, capnography, and arterial blood gases, serve different purposes. Pulse oximetry measures oxygen saturation levels in the blood but does not directly assess airflow or bronchodilator response. Capnography tracks carbon dioxide levels in exhaled air and can indicate metabolic and ventilatory status but does not measure airflow directly either. Arterial blood gases provide a comprehensive view of respiratory function and blood chemistry, but this method is more invasive and not specifically focused on the acute assessment of bronchodilator efficacy