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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1985; 33(3): 173-175
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1014110
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Changes in the Respiratory Gas Tensions of a Pneumonectomy Space and their Application to the Diagnosis of Bronchopleural Fistula

R. K. Firmin, K. Turley, S. Jacobs, P. A. Ebert
  • Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Publication History

1985

Publication Date:
08 May 2008 (online)

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Summary

The oxygen (pO2) and carbon dioxide (pCO2) gas tensions of a pneumonectomy space were studied in an animal model. The 2 gases were measured in a Standard blood gas analyser. The space gas pO2 and pCO2 equilibrated to a steady State within 48 hours of thoracotomy (pO2 mean 53.9 ± 9.3 SD torr; pCO2 mean 44.8 ± 9.9 SD torr). In the presence of a bronchopleural fistula (BPF), the pO2 rose significantly (mean pO2 118.4 ± 13.2 SD torr; p < 0.001). The space pCO2 usually feil, but the response was inconsistent (mean pCO2 33.6 ± 16.4 SD; p = HS). A further rise in space pO2 could sometimes be induced by allowing the animals to breathe 100% oxygen by face mask. Data from 4 clinical cases of BPF support the concept that measurement of the space gas pO2 could be used as a bedside test for BPF.

Key words

Pneumonectomy - Bronchopleural fistula

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