Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

  Patient Selection for Lung Surgery Based on Pulmonary Assessment Tests

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  M. Baghaei Vaji PhD^1*, M. Vahedian PhD², M. Vali MD³, M. Asna Ashari MD³

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  1- Assistant professor, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

  2- Assistant professor, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

  3- Surgeon, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

  Background: Pulmonary function tests before surgery can be used either for assessment of morbidity and mortality after surgery or for estimation of residual lung function after resection. Other useful tests are maximum voluntary ventilation, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, arterial blood gas measurement, perfusion and ventilation scan. The aim of this study was the patient selection method for lung resection in Iran.

  Materials and Methods: In a prospective study, 26 patients were studied between 1997-1999. For each patient before and 3 months after surgery, pulmonary function tests were performed and the amounts of FEV₁, FVC, FEV₁/FVC, MVV were determined before and after surgery and their relation with lung resection type, diagnosis of disease and postoperative complications were assessed.

  Results: Among pulmonary function tests parameters only the percent of preoperative and postoperative FEV₁/FVC and FEV₁/VC had statistically significant relation with lung resection type, diagnosis of disease, postoperative complications and body mass index. In smokers also the percent of postoperative FEV₁/FVC and FEV₁/VC increased significantly.

  Conclusion: According to the results obtained in this study, pulmonary function tests are not useful for patient selection for lung resection and should be used with other lung function assessment test.

  Key words: Pulmonary function tests, Morbidity, Pulmonary resection

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  * corresponding author, Tel: 09133427177

  Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, 2003, 3(1):1-8