Summary
Cardiopulmonary function is a determinant of the utmost importance in thoracic surgery.
A large battery of tests is available, however, only a relatively limited part of
it is obligatory. The essential procedures include testing of global Ventilation (inspiratory
vital capacity, FEV1),relation of lung volumes (residual volume) and regional quantitation of perfusion
(scan). Other costly and invasive tests can be regarded as complementary. This is
true in planned lung resection for cancer, where the indication for surgery is of
vital importance. Other types of thoracic surgery need a more precise evaluation of
risk factors balanced against the expected general improvement of cardiopulmonary
function, as in cardiac surgery, decortication, and resection of bullae. But since
thoracic surgery is practised mainly for the purpose of lung resection with ensuing
loss of function, major attention is paid to this field in order to avoid inconclusive
but costly testing, and to discuss indication and use of involved technique in high-risk
patients.
Key words
Methods - Schedule and relevance of tests - Regional lung function - Thoracic surgery
