High RV/TLC: pneumonectomy mortality?

Answer 1

The RV (residual volume) is the volume of air remaining in the lung following forced expiration. While spirometry has long been recognized as a useful test of pulmonary function, studies have yielded conflicting results with regard to prediction of post-op morbidity and mortality. Traditional criteria of high risk include FVC<50%, FEV1<50% (<2L), Diffusing capacity <50%, predicted post pnuemonectomy FEV1 < 0.8L AND RV/TLC ratio >50%.
Therefore one would presume that the greater the residual volume not participating in ventilation in an already non-ideal lung would increase the risk of death or profound disability.