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CD-ROM Review

Toronto, Ontario

SimBioSys PFT

Critical Concepts Inc. www.critcon.com $79.00 USD ISBN:1890404047

Underlying many lung diseases are changes to the biomechanical properties of the lungs. Understanding diseases such as asthma, pulmonary fibrosis or emphysema requires a working knowledge of how these biomechanical changes occur. Pulmonary function testing looks at several aspects of lung biomechanics known to be clinically important and is a widespread method for pulmonary diagnosis, for determining severity of disease, and for providing objective measures of progress or deterioration.

SimBioSys PFT is a software package on CD-ROM that teaches one about pulmonary function testing. It uses a software physiology simulator (mathematical model) to illustrate concepts and principles that are more difficult to learn using only static text and diagrams such as when reading a textbook. SimBioSys PFT gently walks the user through the essential steps of pulmonary function testing with a series of paragraphs, images and illustrations. The user is later able to practice and reinforce his or her clinical skills by taking on some patient cases.

The underlying model used is quite sophisticated and involves "coupled models of the lung lobes, chest wall, diaphragm, airways and gas exchange." The SimBioSys series of software packages are "flight simulators" that are based on modelling the physiological functions of the human body, allowing students, scientists and health professionals to experiment on a fairly realistic cyber-patient. The SimBioSys engine is based on over 150 differential equations, and has over 1000 variables.

SimBioSys PFT is promoted as "a systematic curriculum for learning to interpret pulmonary function tests" that "uses hypertext, illustrations, and dynamic interactive simulations". After one spends time studying pulmonary function principles and the patterns of pathologic derangements, the user is presented with a number of unknown cases for diagnosis. Topics included in the CD-ROM include respiratory system static and dynamic measurements, gas exchange measurements, respiratory strength, disease patterns in pulmonary function (increased lung compliance, increased airways resistance, mixtures, etc.), and patient case studies.

I found the program to be fun, comprehensive and easy-to-use. This CD-ROM is a must for every anesthesia teaching library.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a scholarly reply Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Doyle, D. J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Doyle, D. J.