Pulmonary function alterations after correction of mitral stenosis.

The aims of the study is to demonstrate the degree of pulmonary function reversibility after successful correction of mitral stenosis, transvenous as well as surgical. Before and in the short- and long-term follow-up after mitral stenosis correction (mitral valve replacement and percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty) echocardiographic and pulmonary function studies were performed in 125 patients with pure or dominant mitral stenosis in order to investigate the influence of hemodynamic changes on pulmonary function. Immediately after procedure moderation of bronchial obstruction could be detected although only in balloon valvuloplasty group. In pts after surgery dramatic decline of pulmonary function due to thoracotomy was found. In the long-term follow-up substantial improvement of all ventilatory parameters in both groups was revealed, diffusing capacity remained unchanged. The favourable evolution was comparable in both groups. The explanation are time consuming beneficial peripheral metabolic, circulatory and organic pulmonary changes, what implies also irrelevant changes of PF in the early phase and unalterable diffusing capacity. (Tab. 1, Fig. 4, Ref. 15.)