[Functional outcome and quality of life at least 6 months after pneumonectomy--effect of operation, adjuvant therapy, tumor stage, sex, type of pneumonia and recurrence].

This study reports on the results of a checkup carried out on 38 patients subjected to an extended cancer aftercare examination at least 6 months after pneumectomy because of bronchial carcinoma, 12 of these patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Lung function data determined by body plethysmography were measured, as well as the quality of life, using the Karnofsky and Spitzer indices as well as QLQ-C30 of the EORTC. In addition, anamnestic data and postoperative ECG and blood gas analysis results were recorded. The most important findings concern restricted lung function due to pneumectomy, an IVC decrease by 33.3%, a drop in FEV1 by 27.3% and a reduction of the total lung capacity (TLC) by 14%. Moreover, a distinctly increased right heart load was seen in 23.4% of all patients. The quality of life tests revealed a slightly reduced quality of life in the external assessment indices according to Karnofsky (86 +/- 11%) and Spitzer (8.6 +/- 1.2). Self-assessment by QLQ-C30 of the EORTC, however, evidenced a clear reduction of the global quality of life (54.2 +/- 15.6) and role function, a moderate decrease of physical, emotional, cognitive and social functioning as well as a greatly increased incidence of the symptoms fatigue, dyspnea, sleep disturbances and pain after surgery. Adjuvant therapy applied in 12 patients had no significant influence, neither on lung function parameters nor on the quality of life. A more advanced tumour stage or a relapse, however, will adversely affect the quality of life.