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The changes in pulmonary function after pneumonectomy in 13 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis have been studied. The data at the time of two follow-up studies are compared with those obtained before the pneumonectomy. The first follow-up was carried out between 5 and 30 months postoperatively and the second between 20 and 24 years later. The results of this second follow-up show a relatively normal arterial oxygen saturation and gas transfer factor but an increased residual volume which cannot be explained by increasing age alone. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A rebreathing technique is described for measuring FRC during exercise. Good agreement was found between this technique and a standard helium dilution method using a water spirometer at rest. Measurements of FRC in ten volunteers showed a significant decrease of FRC at the onset of progressive exercise. The FRC remained significantly smaller than the resting value up to loads of 150 W. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Pulmonary function tests, including spirometry, transfer factor of the lungs for carbon monoxide (TlCO), and the two components of TlCO, the diffusing capacity of the alveolocapillary membrane (Dm) and pulmonary capillary blood volume (Vc), were carried out in a group of patients with testicular carcinoma during and after treatment with the Einhorn regimen. The lung function parameters of patients who developed bleomycin-induced pneumonitis were compared with those recorded in a group of patients who did not develop this syndrome. We suggest that bleomycin-induced damage to the pulmonary capillary vasculature can be monitored by measuring Vc and that ensuing fibrosis can be measured by recording Dm. The decrease in Dm is probably compensated for by an increase in Vc, leading to a smaller change in TlCO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

16-20. Forty-two patients with chronic obstructive lung disease and clinically suspected exercise-induced airway obstruction were studied to ascertain whether those with proven exercise-induced airway obstruction had specific distinguishing features. Exercise-induced airway obstruction (defined as a fall of FEV of at least 10% of the pre-exercise values) was detected in 20 of the 42 patients. These 20 were found to have a lower elastic recoil but were otherwise identical with the remainder as regards clinical and physiological abnormality. It is postulated that exercise-induced airway obstruction can be a manifestation of chronic obstructive lung disease. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]