Airway bypass improves the mechanical properties of explanted emphysematous lungs.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

By creating artificial communications through bronchial walls into the parenchyma of explanted lungs (airway bypass), we expect to decrease the amount of gas trapped and to increase the rate and volume of air expelled during forced expirations.

Objectives

To describe the mechanism by which airway bypass improves the mechanical properties of the emphysematous lung.

Methods

Lung compartments and mechanics were measured before and after airway bypass, which was created by placement of three or four stent-supported fenestrations in 10 emphysematous lungs removed at transplantation surgery.

Measurements and main results

Minimal volume after passive deflation decreased by a mean of 1.54 L (range, 0.7-2.5 L) or 60% (range, 37-86%). Explanted VC increased by

SUBMITTER: Choong CK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2577725 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature