title: Changes in Simple Spirometric Parameters After Lobectomy for Bronchial Carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to describe the postoperative changes in lung function after pure open lobectomy for lung carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 patients (mean age 64 ± 7 years old, 16 men and 14 women) underwent a left or right lobectomy. They underwent spirometric pulmonary tests preoperatively, and at 1 and 6 months after the operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average preoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was 2.55±0.62lt and the mean postoperative FEV1 at 1 and 6 months was 1.97 ± 0.59 L and 2.15±0.66 L respectively. The percentage losses for FEV1 were 22.7% and 15.4% after 1 and 6 months respectively. An average percentage increase of 9.4% for FEV1 was estimated at the time of 6 months in comparison with this of 1 month after the operation. The average preoperative forced vital capacity (FVC) was 3.17 ± 0.81 L and the mean postoperative FVC at 1 and 6 months after the operation was 2.50 ± 0.63 L and 2.72 ± 0.67 L respectively. The percentage losses for FVC were 21.1% and 14.2% after 1 and 6 months respectively. An average percentage increase of 8.7% was observed at the time period of 6 months in comparison with this of 1 month after the operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although, we observed a significant decrease in FEV1 and FVC after the operation, all patients were in excellent clinical status. FEV1 and FVC of 6 months were increased in comparison with the respective values of 1 month after the operation, but did not reach the preoperative values in any patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sismanoglio General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Drakou
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sismanoglio General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Meletios A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kanakis
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Lila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Aretaieio Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iacovidou
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieio Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vrachnis
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sismanoglio General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Stefanos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nicolouzos
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loukas
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sismanoglio General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Achilleas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lioulias
keywords: FEV1; FVC; Lung Cancer; Lung Function; Spirometry; Thoracotomy