The effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on 12 patients with poor pulmonary function

Abstract

Purpose: The clinical significance of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) for poor pulmonary function patients was investigated. Patients and Methods: Twelve poor pulmonary function (FEV1.0<=1.0l) patients who underwent pulmonary resection after PR were retrospectively analyzed. Results: PR was performed an average of 14.8±8.7 times in each patient. PR improved VC from 1.88±0.68l to 2.14±0.72l (p=0.0145), and FEV1.0 from 0.89±0.10l to 1.12±0.23l (p=0.0112). During operations, we performed 6 wedge resections, 2 segmentectomies, 2 lobectomies and 2 pneumonectomies. There were no major complications or mortality. Also no patients needed home oxygen therapy. The overall 5-year survival rate after pulmonary resection was 52.5%. Conclusion: PR may be a useful preoperative therapy that may extend the indication of surgery by improving pulmonary function and decreasing postoperative pulmonary complications in lung cancer patients.