PULMONARY FUNCTION STUDIES IN MITRAL STENOSIS BEFORE AND AFTER COMMISSUROTOMY

Abstract

Pulmonary function has been studied in nine cases of mitral stenosis before and after commissurotomy. Several cases showed an increase in the effective shunting of venous blood through unaerated or poorly ventilated lung with, in some instances, arterial unsaturation. This abnormality was largely corrected by commissurotomy. Pulmonary diffusing capacity was frequently impaired, little affected by operation but usually not sufficiently reduced to cause lowering of arterial oxygen tension during the breathing of room air. Resting hyperventilation, when due to pulmonary congestion, was diminished after commissurotomy.