Fig. 4

Changes in respiratory functions and blood gas parameters before and after resection in patients with or without post-surgical complications. a Pulmonary post-surgical complications were seen in 3 patients with lobectomies. These were acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia, pneumonia, and prolonged pleural fistula, respectively. In the whole group, in the patients with versus without complications, the changes in respiratory function before and after resection had similar trends. b This trend was also maintained regarding blood gas exchange parameters, except that DLCO/VA was significantly decreased in the patients with complications. * p < 0.05 vs preoperative values