Lung mechanics in patients undergoing mitral valve replacement. The value of monitoring of compliance and resistance.

Measurements of compliance, resistance of the respiratory system, and left atrial pressure were made before, during, and after mitral valve replacement in 30 patients. Postoperatively left atrial pressures decreased, resistance decreased and compliance increased significantly. Monitoring and recordkeeping of lung mechanics were found to be useful in predicting the feasibility for extubation and as indicators of impending disasters, e.g., due to bleeding in the thoracic cavity.