Pulmonary function and exercise capacity in children following lung resection surgery

Abstract

Purpose

To study lung function and exercise capacity in children following lung resection surgery.

Methods

Children aged 6–18 years who had lung resection surgery were studied and compared to normal children (age and sex matched). All had spirometry/body plethysmography and exercise stress test (performed by treadmill and modified Balke protocol).

Results

13 Patients and 13 controls were studied (age 13.2 ± 3.3 years; 46.2 % male). The age at the time of lung resection surgery was 6.5 ± 4.7 years. The time interval between post-surgery and the tests was 6.8 ± 4.4 years. The most common indication for lung resection surgery was congenital lung malformations (61.5 %). 76.9 % of the patients had abnormal lung function. Exercise intolerance due to pulmonary limitations was found in 23.1 % of the patients. At the anaerobic threshold, the $V_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} /{\text{kg}}$ was not different between the patients and the controls. However, at the end of the exercise, the patients demonstrated lower peak $V_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} /{\text{kg}}$ than the controls (33.6 ± 6.0 vs. 39.3 ± 8.7 ml/min/kg; p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Abnormal lung functions and exercise intolerance were found in children following lung resection surgery. Children who had lung resection surgery had lower exercise capacity than normal children if the exercise was beyond the anaerobic threshold.