[Reversibility or irreversibility of pulmonary function changes after cardiac surgery on insufficient or stenotic cardiac valves (author's transl)].

In 69 patients with mitral- or aortic valves disease lung function tests were made preoperatively and 2 to 4 years after cardiac surgery. We wanted to demonstrate the extent and the improvement of restriction, obstruction and disturbed diffusing capacity of the separate diseases with different severities. We found correlations between the clinical grade of the disease and the changes in lung function. In particular grade III of the mitral stenosis showed severe restriction, obstruction and disturbed diffusing capacity. Patients with mitral insufficiency III had changes of mild degree, aortic diseases were without disturbed lung function. All detected changes of lung function were irreversible and could not be influenced by postoperative hemodynamic improvements.