Harada K, Hamaguchi N, Shimada Y, Saoyama N, Minamimoto T, Inoue K
Respiration. 1984;46(2):201-8. doi: 10.1159/000194690.
After a pneumonectomy in patients of advanced age with lung cancer, overinflation of the contralateral lung causes a further emphysematous change. This aggravation of emphysematous disturbances occasionally leads to serious cardiopulmonary dysfunctions. Therefore, we have devised a new therapeutic method which consists in injecting sulfur hexafluoride, SF6, an inert gas, into the postpneumonectomy pleural space so as to maintain the chest cavity. As SF6 gas is slowly absorbed through the pleura, gas injection at intervals of 6 months can maintain a clear pleural space with neither retention of pleural effusion nor deformity of the thorax. As a result, in 23 patients who were treated by this method, overinflation of the contralateral lung after unilateral pneumonectomy could be prevented, and respiratory functions could be improved, i.e., the vital capacity increased about 20% and the residual volume decreased over 20% after SF6 gas injection. All patients have been in good condition of their performance status, and it was not disadvantageous to continue the SF6 gas injection for a long term such as several years.
在老年肺癌患者行肺切除术后，对侧肺过度膨胀会导致进一步的肺气肿改变。这种肺气肿紊乱的加重偶尔会导致严重的心肺功能障碍。因此，我们设计了一种新的治疗方法，即向肺切除术后的胸腔内注入六氟化硫（SF6），一种惰性气体，以维持胸腔。由于SF6气体通过胸膜缓慢吸收，每6个月进行一次气体注入可保持胸腔清晰，既无胸腔积液潴留也无胸廓畸形。结果，在接受该方法治疗的23例患者中，单侧肺切除术后对侧肺的过度膨胀得以预防，呼吸功能得到改善，即注入SF6气体后肺活量增加约20%，残气量减少超过20%。所有患者的身体状况良好，长期（如数年）持续注入SF6气体并无不利影响。
