Effects of lobectomy on lung function.

The effect of lobectomy on lung function was investigated in 16 patients in whom comprehensive lung function tests were performed before and between six weeks and six months after lobectomy. The operation was well tolerated even by patients with quite severe airways obstruction. The effect of lobectomy on forced flow rates was in keeping with the change in lung volumes. There was no alteration in the distribution of ventilation and the diffusion capacity remained unchanged. The changes in the pressure volume curves were difficult to explain. All patients, even those with nearly "complete" hyperinflation of the remaining lung, had appreciable increases in maximal intrapleural pressure at full inspiration.