Pulmonary diffusion capacity in mitral stenosis and atrial septal defect

ABSTRACT

To assess the diffusion capacity in two groups of patients suffering from heart disease of a different aetiology. Preoperative single breath diffusion capacity [DL[co]] was measured by the carbon monoxide and helium dilution method in two groups of patients suffering from heart disease of a different aetiology 79 patients with advanced rheumatic dominant mitral stenosis scheduled for valve replacement [MVR] surgery and 25 patients with congenital atrial septal defect [ASD] scheduled for surgical repair in the Chest Disease Hospital, Kuwait. The DL[co] was reduced with the patients in the MVR group and tended toward a more normal value with the patients in the ASD group. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups for the DL[co] for both males [P<0.0001] and females [P<0.001]. Changes in DL[co] in patients with heart disease depends on the underling cardiac pathology