Physiologic consequences of pneumonectomy. Long-term consequences of pneumonectomy done in children.

Lung resections in children are performed for a variety of reasons including congenital malformations, infections, bronchiectasis, and tumors. There are no long-term reports on pneumonectomy alone in children, but those on lung resection as a group state that children tolerate these operations well, with mild sequelae if any, and that the majority of them in adulthood can perform non-physically demanding jobs adequately. The authors' findings concur with the reports that younger patients can endure pulmonary resections with minimal functional limitations.