Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) Practice Exam

What does the esophageal balloon primarily help to measure?

1. Ventilation

2. Compliance

3. Volume

4. Diffusion capacity

The correct answer is: Compliance

The esophageal balloon is primarily used to measure lung compliance, which is a crucial parameter in assessing the mechanical properties of the respiratory system. By inserting a balloon into the esophagus, the pressure changes in the esophagus can be related to lung pressures, allowing for the calculation of compliance during different respiratory maneuvers. This method gives insights into the distensibility of the lungs and chest wall. High compliance indicates that the lungs can expand easily, while low compliance may suggest stiffness in the lung tissue or chest wall, which can be indicative of different pulmonary or thoracic conditions. Understanding compliance helps in the management of patients with respiratory disorders, as it affects how easily a patient can breathe and how well oxygen can be exchanged. Other choices such as ventilation, volume, and diffusion capacity pertain to different aspects of respiratory assessment. Ventilation focuses more on air movement in and out of the lungs, volume pertains to the amount of air in the lungs during different phases of the breathing cycle, and diffusion capacity measures how well gases are exchanged in the alveoli. Thus, the esophageal balloon's primary role is indeed related to compliance measurements.