Effects of pleural opening on respiratory function tests in cardiac surgery: a prospective study.

PURPOSE : To show the effects on lung function of the opening pleura in pa - tients undergoing cardiac surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 66 patients were included. Patients were allocated into two groups. In group 1 (n=21) pleura was intact, in group 2 (n=45) pleura was opened. Both groups were compared prospectively in terms of preop - erative and on the post-operative 5th day pul - monary function tests (PFT), preoperative, post - operative first and fifth day arterial blood gas analysis, preoperative and postoperative first day mixt venous oxygen saturation, bleeding, opera - tion periods, pulmonary complications, intensive care and hospital stay period and mortality. RESULTS : There was significant decrease in all PFT indicators on 5th post-operative day in group 2 ( p 0.025). In group 2 much more decline in pul - monary function test parameters than group 1 were observed ( p 0.05). But in group 2 except pH and PaCO 2, other blood gas measurements were sig - nificantly decreased on the postoperative first and fifth day ( p < 0.008). In group 2 except pH and PCO 2, other parameters were less than the other Group ( p < 0.01). The drained amount was still significantly higher in group 2 ( p < 0.001). The frequency of the revision due to bleeding was observed much more in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Protection of the integrity of pleura may have positive effects on pulmonary functions in cardiac surgery.