Abstract
Background: Bronchiectasis is a significant cause of morbidity and surgical treatment is commonly indicated. Objective: To evaluate the physiological and sensorial effects of surgery in patients with bronchiectasis who failed to medical treatment.
Methods: All patients with non-cystic fibrosis were submitted to thoracotomy. The main measurements pre and post 3 and 9 months lung resection were: QOL using SF-36v2, Lung Function Tests and Maximal Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test on cycle ergometer.
Results. Out of 61 patients, 53 (50.9% male; 41.3 ±12.9 yrs) underwent surgical resection, but only 44 complete the nine months of follow-up. Two patients died and minor complications occurred in 24.5%. Lobectomy was performed in 83%. Functionally, they were characterized of mild obstruction and diminished exercise capacity. Their QOL were worse than expected for healthy individuals. Surgery resulted in mildly reduction of lung volume and the exercise capacity was not decreased at 3 and 9 months
Table1
, but in fact 52% improved their exercise performance. QOL improved significantly achieving values considered normal for general population. The results are similar for lobectomy and pneumonectomy.
Conclusion. Lung resection resulted in non-clinical significant drop of lung function and the patients maintained exercise capacity with important benefits in QOL at 3 and 9 months after surgery.
- © 2014 ERS
