Background: In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of lung decortication surgery on the postoperative respiratory function, comparing pre- and postoperative findings of arterial blood gas analysis, respiratory function test and lung perfusion scintigraphy of the adult patients.

Methods: Between January 2000 and November 2008, the clinical data of 37 patients over 15 years of age (25 males, 12 females; mean age 37.3 years; range 15 to 73 years) were retrospectively analyzed, who underwent lung decortication surgery due to chronic empyema in Thoracic Surgery Department of the Faculty of Medicine of Dicle University, Diyarbakır. Pre- and postoperative findings of arterial blood gas analysis, respiratory function test and lung perfusion scintigraphy were analyzed statistically.

Results: Sixteen (43.24%) of the patients underwent right thoracotomy, while 21 (56.75%) underwent left thoracotomy. Histopathologic examination revealed chronic fibrinous pleuritis in 28 patients (75.6%) and tuberculous pleuritis in nine patients (24.3%). Statistical significance was found in PO₂, SO₂ (p<0.05), FEV₁ and FVC and perfusion scintigram (p<0.001), whereas no statistical significance was observed in PCO₂ (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Our study results suggest that decortation surgery eliminates the compression on the lungs, allowing re-ventilation and leads to improvement of the respiratory function over time. These findings were also consistent with the previous study results.

Keywords : Arterial blood gas; decortication; lung perfusion scintigraphy; respiratory function tests