Ventilatory functions and regional ventilation - prefusion studies in cases of tuberculous pleural effusion

This work was devoted to 10 cases of tuberculous right sided pleural effusion. Pulmonary function tests and blood gasometry as well as regional perfusion and ventilation study using radioactive Xenon[133] have been done to every patient before and after absorption of the effusion. The results of this investigation revealed: Proportionate decrease of the lung volumes and capacities to the effusion. There was hypoxaemia with normocapnia which persisted after absorption of the effusion and return of the ventilatory functions to near normal values. There was disturbed regional ventilation and to greater extent of regional perfusion which was not restricted to the side of the effusion. The disturbed regional ventilation and perfusion did not return to normal after absorption of the effusion. The uncorrected disturbed regional ventilation and perfusion can explain to a great extent the persistance of hypoxaemia

use of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in localised pulmonary lesions: an experience in 150 cases

A total of 150 cases of undiagnosed pulmonary lesions were examined by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. The details of the procedure and its complications were described

effect of cigarette smoking of regional lung functions in assymptomatic smokers

Regional ventilation and perfusion were studied in the erect posture using Xenon[133] in 40 asymptomatic cigarette smokers, divided according to the duration and dose of smoking into those of short duration, light and heavy smokers and those of long duration, light and heavy smokers. All cases had normal chest radiographs without any evidence of other concommittent disease. The results were compared with those obtained in age matched control subjects who were life long non smokers. There were hypoventilation and hypoperfusion in the lung bases and increased perfusion in the lung apices in most of the smokers which were significantly related to the dose and duration of smoking. It is suggested that the abnormalities found in the group of smokers were consistent with the development of early emphysema

Regional ventilation-perfusion study with Xe133 in cases of idiopathic kyphoscoliosis

This work was carried on ten patients with idiopathic kyphoscoliosis. Complete pulmonary functions on all the patients as well as regional ventilation/perfusion studies on five of them using Xenon [133] were done. The ventilatory defect on the studied cases was essentially that of restrictive pattern. There was no evidence of airway obstruction since the forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV[1]] and maximum expiratory flow rate [MEFR] were with in normal. All lung volumes were reduced except the residual volume which registered a normal value. There was CO[2] retension and hypoxemia attributable to alveolar hypoventilation and ventilation/perfusion [V/Q] imbalance. The latter error was illustrated by diminusion of ventilation and perfusion of the lower lung zones that was evident in the right lung possibly due to lung compression by the scoliotic curve. The disturbance in perfusion was less than that of ventilation with the result of low V/Q ratio at the lung bases and high V/Q ratio at the upper lung zones. That was partially responsible for arterial hypoxemia

Regional vetilation-perfusion study with Xe133 in patients with pectus excavatum deformity

Ten patients with pectus excavatum deformity have been evaluated by routine clinical, radiological, ECG and pulmonary function tests as well as radio-isotopic lung function studies using Xe[133]. The results showed no correlation between subjective complaints and objective findings and also no correlation with the degree of deformity. The routine pulmonary function tests showed a mild restrictive pattern. Arterial gas tensions showed a mild drop in PaO[2] and a normal PaCO[2] Regional lung study on five patients showed impairment of ventilation and perfusion in the form of hypoventilation and perfusion in the form of hypoventilation and hypoperfusion of Zone [3] of the left lung with corresponding hyperventilation and hyperperfusion of zone [3] of the right lung due to heart displacement to the left and compression of the left lung base

Cigarette smoke and pulmonary surfactant

This study was performed on 30 healthy guinea pigs. The surfactant was extracted by bronchial lavage. The application of cigarette smoke to bronchial washings resulted in a reduction in the effect of surfactant with an increase in the tension at the lower surface area and a decrease in the tension at the expanded area. Neither the best type of commercial cigarette filters nor macrobubble water traps removed enough the smoke to prevent the alteration of surfactant. This effect of cigarette smoke was demonstrated to be comparable to that of ordinary house dust suggesting that the alteration of surfactant may largely, if not solely, be attributable to the particulate matter in cigarette smoke. These alterations markedly reduced the index of stability of the lung extract, and as applicable to the alveoli tend toward the development of emphysema