ABSTRACT
Lung function studies in patients with severe aortic stenosis scheduled for aortic valve replacement [AVR] revealed an obstructive ventilatory pattern. The majority of those operated upon showed a similar pattern postoperatively. A blind study of the effect of placebo and beta[2] agonist [salbutamol] inhalation was performed in two separate groups of patients preoperatively and six months postoperatively, to evaluate the reversibility of airflow obstruction in these patients, using the following flow volume curve, body plethysmographic measurement of airway resistance [Rex] and intrathoracic gas volume [VTG]. The group of patients in the preoperative period showed significant differences between the placebo and the beta2 agonist responses for FEV[1], PEFR, Vmax[50], Rex and VTG [P<0.001], and also in the postoperative group for FEV[1]/FVC and Rex [P<0.01]. We conclude that salbutamol inhalation improves the obstructive impairment in patients with AVR both pre and post-operatively