The effects of bilateral lung transplantation on ventilatory efficiency, oxygen uptake and the right heart: a two-yr follow-up.

Background: This study was to examine the course of ventilation/perfusion mismatch (VE/VCO(2)-slope) before and during two-yr follow-up after bilateral lung transplantation (BLTx) and to relate exercise parameters with the reverse right ventricular remodeling.

Methods: We prospectively examined 20 patients (nine women; age 46.0 ± 13.