Cardiopulmonary bypass does not induce lung dysfunction after pulmonary thrombarterectomy: role of pulmonary compliance.

Objectives: Pulmonary endarterectomy is a heavy surgical procedure that is performed under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and aimed to cure postembolic pulmonary hypertension. Reperfusion oedema is both the hallmark of successful surgical procedure and the most frequent postoperative complication. Post-CPB lung dysfunction was not mentioned in any report.

Early pulmonary compliance increase during cardiac surgery predicted post-operative lung dysfunction.

Introduction: Lung dysfunction following cardiac surgery is currently viewed as the consequence of atelectasis and lung injury. While the mechanism of atelectasis has been largely detailed, the pathogenesis of lung injury after cardiopulmonary bypass is still unclear. Based upon clinical and experimental studies, we hypothesized that lungs could be injured through a mechanical phenomenon.