Bronchospirometry with Carlens' Double Lumen Catheter Part 3. Changes in Respiratory Function Following Surgical Treatment for Pulmonary Tuberculosis

1) Effects of surgical treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, especially, lobectomy, thoracoplasty, extrapleural pneumothorax, segmental and partial resection on respiratory function were studied by bronchospirometry preoperatively andsix months postoperatively. Following results were obtained. 2) Effects on operated lung were most marked in thoracoplasty, and diminished in lobectomy, extrapleural pneumothorax and segmental resection in that order. It was minimum inpartial resection. 3) Decrease of respiratory function was exaggerated in cases where thoracoplasty was supplemented or pleural thickening developed following lobectomy compared to in cases without complications. 4) Decrease of vital capacity was most prominent in all the groups and decrease in oxygen consumption is in the second place. Decrease was minimum in minute volume. 5) In the contralateral lung, compensatory increaseof oxygen uptake and minute volume were noted though vital capacity decreased in all the groups. 6) Effects of extrapleural pneumothorax on respiratory function were variable. Some showed marked increase in ventiratory function, though marked decrease ensued in others.