OBJECTIVES: Cardiopulmonary condition and quality of life of patients after successful repair of coarctation of the aorta (CoA) could be influenced by possibly disturbed lung function. Study on pulmonary function (PFT) using a wide spectrum of methods long-term after repair of CoA is lacking.
METHODS: Fifteen patients operated on (at the age 2.22.6; median 0.9 yrs) by resection of CoA followed by anastomosis end-to-end were tested (11.32.9; median 11.7 years) after surgery. Static lung volumes, lung elasticity (by esophageal balloon technique) and central/peripheral airway patency measurements were performed.
RESULTS (mean value of % predicted±SD):
| Vital capacity (VC) |
96.8±14.3 |
N.S. |
| Total lung capacity (TLC) |
94.0±15.2 |
N.S. |
| Residual volume to TLC (RV/TLC) |
99.6±30.4 |
N.S. |
| Lung recoil at 100% TLC (Pst100) |
113.4±26.7 |
N.S. |
| Specific lung compliance (Cst/TLC) |
101.3±20.4 |
N.S. |
| Specific airway conductance (sGaw) |
75.4±21.6 |
<0.01 |
| Maximum expiratory flow at 25% VC/TLC |
97.7±24.9 |
N.S. |
CONCLUSIONS: Normal mean values of indices of the lung size, lung elasticity and peripheral airway patency were found long-term after successful correction of CoA. No signs of lung hyperinflation were detected. Index of central airway patency (sGaw) slightly decreased, which might represent mild central airway obstruction. Next measurements could validate present data.
Supported by grant NE 7641-3 and MSM 111100008
