The effect of lung resection on pulmonary function and exercise capacity in lung cancer patients.

Abstract

Lobectomy patients suffered significant reduction of functional reserve, with almost equal deterioration between lung function and exercise capacity. Pneumonectomy patients had a more substantial loss of functional reserve, and a disproportionate loss of pulmonary function relative to exercise capacity. Therefore, pulmonary function test values considered in isolation may exaggerate the loss of functional exercise capacity in pneumonectomy patients, which is important because many lung cancer patients who require resection for cure are prepared to accept the risks of immediate surgical complications and mortality, but are unwilling to risk long-term poor exercise capacity.