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peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR, PER)

Indications: - used in the assessment of acute asthma. Clinical significance: 1) peak expiratory flow rate used in the classification of asthma a) >= 80% mild (intermittent or persistent) asthma b) 60-80% moderate persistent asthma c) < 60% severe persistent asthma 2) peak expiratory flow rates of < 200 L/min is one of several criteria for admission of asthmatics to the hospital 3) flow rate % corresponds to FEV1 % Notes: - a medical calculator for predicted peak flow & percentage of predicted for pediatric patients is available online at ref [2] Some predicted peak flows based on height: height (inches) peak flow (L/min) 54 293 60 373 66 454 67 467

General

pulmonary function test (PFT)

References

  1. Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 14, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2006
  2. Cornell University, Medical Calculators, Peak Flow http://www-users.med.cornell.edu/~spon/picu/calc/peakflow.htm