Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2005; 53(4): 245-249
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-837646
Original Thoracic

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Lung Function in Patients Operated for Chronic Pleural Empyema

W. Rzyman1 , J. Skokowski1 , G. Romanowicz2 , P. Lass2 , M. Murawski1 , M. Taraszewska3 , R. Dziadziuszko4
  • 1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
  • 2Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
  • 3Department of Radiology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
  • 4Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
Further Information

Publication History

Received December 9, 2004

Publication Date:
22 July 2005 (online)

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Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate lung function after lung decortication in patients operated for chronic pleural empyema. Methods and Materials: To determine the lung function after lung decortication in 20 men (71.4 %) and 8 women (28.6 %) a prospective evaluation of blood gases, spirometry, lung perfusion, ventilation, and alveolar permeability were performed 28 weeks (15 - 60 weeks) after the operation. Results: Median lung perfusion on the affected side was 45.2 % (26.1 - 55.3 %) in 13 right and 36 % (13.8 - 47.2 %) in 15 left empyemas, and was within normal limits in 4/28 cases. The mean lung ventilation was 44.4 % (21.5 - 54 %) and 37 % (18.9 - 50.6 %) in patients affected on the right or left side, respectively. Ventilation perfusion inequality occurred in 22 patients (78.6 %). Dynamic ventilation scintigraphy revealed impairment of epithelial integrity in 10 cases (35.7 %). Individual analysis revealed that 15 patients (53.6 %) showed a severe reduction in one of the examinations and 8 (28.6 %) in more than one. Conclusions: Although the separate analysis of the different functional parameters revealed a mild reduction of lung function after decortication, in the majority of patients the impairment was more severe due to multilevel functional lung damage.

References

M.D. Ph.D. Witold Rzyman

Thoracic Surgery Department
Medical University of Gdansk

Ul. Dębinki 7

80-211Gdansk

Poland

Phone: + 48583492400

Fax: + 48 5 83 49 24 29

Email: wrzyman@amg.gda.pl