STUDIES OF RESPIRATORY PHYSIOLOGY IN CHILDREN
IV. The Late Effects of Lobectomy on Pulmonary Function
Charles D. Cook M.D.1 and
Giovanni Bucci M.D.2
1 Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston
2 The Department of Medicine of the Children's Hospital Medical Center, Boston
The results of follow-up pulmonary function studies of nine previously lobectomized children without residual lung disease and one pneumonectomized and seven lobectomized children with residual disease are presented. From the studies of patients with remaining normal lung tissue, it appeared that there was little or no tendency to compensatory increase in volume or number of remaining lung units or compensatory changes in the pulmonary capillary bed. The discrepancy between these conclusions and those of others who have shown overdistention may be based on the lack of residual disease in this group of patients and/ or the less extensive removal of lung tissue.
In the patients with residual disease, there was evidence of obstructive emphysema and an indication of slight increase in diffusion and pulmonary capillary blood volume. The poor results with penumonectomy when there is chronic obstructive dissease in the remaining lung are illustrated by the presentation of a case.
