The Pulmonary Function of Residual Lung after Left Upper Lobectomy and Bronchofiberscopic Findings of the Left Bronchus after Left Upper Lobectomy

Abstract

We investigated the degree of dislocation and deformity of the left lower bronchus after left upper lobectomy and also studied how much the degree of the fomer had influenced the pulmonary function of residual lung. Bronchofiberscopic findings showed that the left main bronchus was dislocated upwards markedly and that there was stenosis of the orifice of the basal bronchus. Comparing left upper lobectomy and the left lower lobectomy, the residual left lung had greater ventilation-perfusion ratio mismatch and shunt effect in the former than the latter. In the contralateral lung, lobectomy had some influence but the degree of ventilation-perfusion mismatch and shunt effect was a less in left upper lobectomy than in left lower lobectomy.