Calculating Post-Operative Lung Function

Greater Manchester Cancer

Calculating Post-operative Lung Function

Answer the following questions:

1. Are there any obstructed segments on CT or bronchoscopy?

2. What do you expect will be resected at surgery (assume lobectomy is the standard of care)?

Then calculate:

• Total number of unobstructed segments – number of unobstructed segments to be removed = Answer A

• Answer A ÷ total number of unobstructed segments = Answer B

• Answer B x pre-operative % predicted lung function

Example – patient under assessment for left upper lobectomy, FEV1 68% predicted – what is the post-operative predicted FEV1?There are no obstructed segments on CT or bronchoscopy.

19 – 5 = 14

14 ÷ 19 = 0.75

0.75 x 68 = 50Predicted post-operative FEV1 = 50%

Segments:Right upper lobe = 3 Right middle lobe = 2 Right lower lobe = 5 Left upper lobe = 5 Left lower lobe = 4 Total = 19