Comparison between actual and predicted postoperative stair-climbing test, walk test and spirometric values in patients undergoing lung resection.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether the tests - Forced Expiratory Volume at one second (FEV₁), 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and stair-climbing test (SCT) showed proportional changes after the resection of functioning lung.


METHODS
Candidates for pulmonary resection were included. Spirometry, 6MWT and SCT were performed preoperatively (pre) and at least 3 months after surgery (pos). SCT was performed on a staircase with a total ascent height of 12.16m. The time taken to climb the total height the fastest possible was defined as stair-climbing time (SCt). Number of functioning segments lost, was used to calculated predicted postoperative (ppo) tests values. Pre, ppo and pos values for each test were compared. Data were analyzed by repeated-measure ANOVA with significance level set at 5%.


RESULTS
A total of 40 patients were enrolled. Pulmonary resection results ranged from gain of 2 functioning segments to loss of 9. Pre, ppo and pos values were the following: preFEV₁ = 2.6±0.8L, ppo FEV₁ =2.3±0.8L, and pos FEV₁=2.3±0.8L, (pre FEV₁ > ppo FEV₁ = pos FEV₁); pre6MWT = 604±63m, ppo6MWT= 529±103m, pos6MWT= 599±74m (pre6MWT = pos6MWT > ppo6MWT); preSCt = 32.9±7.6s, ppoSCt = 37.8±12.1s, posSCt = 33.7±8.5s (preSCt = posSCt < ppoSCt).


CONCLUSIONS
In our group of patients, pulmonary resection led to loss of lung function measured by spirometry, but not to exercise capacity measured by stair-climbing and walk tests.
UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Marcos Vinícius Cataneo
MV
Pancieri
Daniele Cristina
DC
Cataneo
Jair Cortez
JC
Montovani
Antonio José Maria
AJ
Cataneo
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013147:Spirometry; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult