Chest
The Senile Lung: Comparison with Normal and Emphysematous Lungs 2. Functional Aspects
Section snippets
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Studies were performed on 17 right and 12 left human lungs and one isolated left lower lobe (V50), obtained at autopsy. Lungs with leaks, gross parenchymal consolidations, and generalized fibrosis were excluded from the study. Functional investigations were started within 24 h after death. Prior to the investigations, the lungs were kept at +4°C. The main bronchus was tied to a cannula of fitting size by which the lung was suspended in an airtight box. To expand atelectatic regions, the lung
RESULTS
The investigated lungs were separated into three groups on the basis of their morphologic characteristics: normal lungs with values of mean linear intercept (Lm) within normal range (A), senile lungs, with uniformly increased Lm without destruction (B), and emphysematous lungs with an irregular increase of Lm and signs of destruction (C). The emphysematous lungs are of the centrilobular type (CLE). The static lung volumes, the pressure-volume characteristics, and some relevant data of the
DISCUSSION
We will discuss first the validity of functional indices measured in excised lungs, second, compare the values recorded in the three groups of lungs, with the purpose of relating the functional to the structural characteristics of senile with respect to normal and emphysematous lungs.
As compared with the expected in vivo values, static lung volumes (TLC, VC, MA/TLC) and shape constant k are rather low in our group of normal lungs. In contrast, the values of FEV1/VC are too large, and elastic
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Supported by a grant of the Fonds voor Geneeskundig Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek.