Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  1997 Sep;30(9):914-919.

Changes of Pulmonary Function after Decortication in Chronic Empyema Thoracis

• Kim CS
• Kim KD
• Chung KY
• Chung WS

Abstract

We analyzed the changes of pulmonary function after decortication in 33 patients with chronic empyema thoracis. In 11 patients of them, scintigraphic lung perfusion scan were performed. The results are as follows; 1. Forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1) increased from 2.30 L/sec to 2.65 L/sec after decortication(p=0.008). 2. In patients under 20 years-old, FEV1 increased significantly(p=0.001). 3. In patients who had tuberculosis empyema thoracis, FEV1 increased significantly(p=0.008). 4. The post-operative FEV1 increased significantly 24 months later(p=0.013). 5. Perfusion and FEV1 of diseased lung changed from 21.5% to 26.9%(p=0.046) and 0.56 L/sec to 0.78 L/sec(p=0.071) after decortication respectively and perfusion of non-diseased lung changed 78.4% to 72.9% after decortication(p=0.042).

Keyword

Empyema; Pulmonary function test

MeSH Terms

Empyema*
Forced Expiratory Volume
Humans
Lung
Perfusion
Respiratory Function Tests
Tuberculosis
Young Adult