The Significance of the Lung-Thorax Compliance in Surgical Operations

The Work of Breathing During Surgical Operations

“…The changes in l ung\ x=r eq-\ thorax compliance that were found to occur have been previously reported in detail. 12,13 The methods of measuring the work of breathing fall into three main groups. The first consists of measurement of the in¬ creased oxygen consumption during hyper¬ ventilation.14 The second consists of recording the intrapleural or intraesophageal pressure and the tidal volume or rate of air flow.15'7 Plotting volume change directly against pressure change permits measure¬ ment of the work of breathing by the lung but does not measure the work involved in moving the chest wall and adjacent viscera.1S19 The third method uses the tanktype respirator.…”