Do pulmonary hemodynamics change after effective lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema?
The improvement in lung function, exercise test, blood gas levels, and symptoms in emphysema patients after volume reduction surgery is a result of improvements in breathing mechanics. The question is, is the improvement in the condition related to pulmonary hemodynamics? Few studies have examined pre- and postoperative pulmonary pressure. This paper examines whether there is any significant change in systolic and diastolic pulmonary pressure after effective volume reduction surgery. From October 1999 to October 2002, 12 emphysema patients who underwent volume reduction surgery were studied. Systolic and diastolic pulmonary pressures were measured 2 days before surgery through cardiac catheterization and 2 days after removal of the chest tubes through Swan Ganz catheters placed in the operating room just before surgery. Patients were stable and breathed without assistance during the postoperative pressure measurement. Blood gas analysis, lung function tests, and a 6-minute walk test were performed preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. The two sets of data were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. There was no significant change in pulmonary hemodynamics, although pulmonary function improved. The improvement in pulmonary function after volume reduction surgery is not related to pulmonary hemodynamics.
Chou
Shah-Hwa
SH
Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan. shhwch@cc.kmu.edu.tw
Chuang
Hung-Yi
HY
Kao
Eing-Long
EL
Huang
Ming-Shyang
MS
Hwang
Jhi-Jhu
JJ
Wang
Tung-Heng
TH
Huang
Meei-Feng
MF
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology