EFFECTS OF THORACIC SURGERY ON THE PULMONARY DIFFUSING CAPACITY

Abstract

The breath-holding diffusing capacities of 39 patients were obtained before and within 2 months after various types of thoracic surgery. Both the pulmonary diffusing capacity (Dl) and the breath-holding lung volume (Vl) decreased following lung surgery. Five patients who underwent pneumonectomy showed a comparable fall in Dl and Vl in the early postoperative period but, following thoracoplasty, wedge resection, and lobectomy there was a more marked fall in Dl than in Vl- The pulmonary diffusing capacity and the breath-holding lung volume subsequently returned toward normal, with Dl showing more improvement than Vl- Some possible mechanisms for the excessive Dl loss are discussed.