Respiratory Functions After Pneumonectomy By

At present Pneumonectomy is being widely used in the treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis where we come across a destroyed lung or where stenosis of the main bronchus is present and is considered a safe procedure both as far as the post-operative mortality and the ability of the patients to bear the strains of high degree of physical activity is concerned. Experimental studies on the physiological effects of removal of one of a pair of vitality important organ as the lung is have been studied by Bremer (1937) on cats and Longaere et al (1937) on dogs. The physiological studies in man will be of great practical value for assessing individual cases and chiefly in helping to decide which are the most favourable conditions for the maintenance of higher degree of functional efficiency in the remaining lung after pneumonectomy. This has been attemp-ted by few workers only. Me Ilroy & Bates (1956) reported that after Pneumonectomy the Vital Capacity is reduced to half the normal predicted values. Hirdes & Bosch (1955) post-pneumonec-tomy in 38 patients reported an increase in Vital Capacity & M.B. C. with the course of time. Cournand and Berry (1942) and Cournand & Austrian (1950) reported develop