Long-term recovery of exercise capacity and pulmonary function after lobectomy.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the present study was to perform longitudinal objective evaluations of recovery of exercise capacity based on expired gas analysis during exercise testing up to 1 year after pulmonary resection.


METHODS
The study included 18 patients who underwent lobectomy. Expired gas analysis during exercise testing was conducted 1 week before surgery and 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. The parameters studied included maximum exercise capacity based on expired gas analysis during exercise testing (maximum oxygen uptake per minute per square meter of body surface area) and assessment of moderate exercise capacity (anaerobic threshold per square meter of body surface area). The changes in postoperative data relative to the preoperative values (baseline) were assessed, including the percent changes from baseline data, which were arbitrarily given a value of 100.


RESULTS
Maximum oxygen uptake per minute per square meter of body surface area decreased significantly to 78.6% +/- 14.2% of the baseline value at 2 weeks after surgery and was 80.3% +/- 12.7%, 90.9% +/- 15.9%, 90% +/- 19.7%, and 97% +/- 4.8% of the baseline value at 1, 3, and 6 months, and 1 year, respectively. Anaerobic threshold per square meter of body surface area reached 91.1% +/- 17.5% of the baseline value even 2 weeks after surgery and was 87.1% +/- 17.3%, 97.5% +/- 28.0%, 84.3% +/- 13.2%, and 104% +/- 16.2% of the baseline value at 1, 3, and 6 months, and 1 year, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The extent of recovery of exercise capacity at 1 year after surgery was approximately 95%. Furthermore, the anaerobic threshold per square meter of body surface area was restored to the preoperative level by 1 year after surgery.
Nagamatsu
Yoshinori
Y
Department of Surgery, National Hospital Organization Omuta National Hospital, Ohmuta Fukuoka, Japan. nagam2@nifty.com
Maeshiro
Kanetaka
K
Kimura
Norman Y
NY
Nishi
Tatsuya
T
Shima
Ichirou
I
Yamana
Hideaki
H
Shirouzu
Kazuo
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests