[External respiration and lesser circulation hemodynamics in the late periods following pneumonectomy]

Under investigation were 112 patients subjected to pneumonectomy in terms from 2 to 31 years ago. Substantial disturbances of the ventilatory function, bronchial passability and pulmonary blood flow were revealed in patients with one lung. Two thirds of the patients have developed persistent pulmonary hypertension following catheterization of the right compartments of the heart, 22% of the examined patients had the latent form (revealed by physical load). The authors emphasize doubtful value of the ECG for diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension due to a pronounced change in the position of the heart after pulmonectomy.