Serial Evaluation of Pulmonary Funtion Long-Term after Lung Contusion

Lung contusions (LC) in children are frequent findings after road accidents. Possible residual lesions may potentially influence long-term pulmonary development. Forty four patients injured at the age of 10.0±4.0 years (ranged 2.3–17.5) were diagnosed and treated for LC. These children were studied serially 2.0±1.8 (ranged 0.1–6.6)yrs and later again 8.4±3.3 (ranged 0.8–12.6)yrs after injury (only 21 subject accessible). The same protocol was used in both studies: static lung volumes, lung elasticity and airway patency. Twenty nine of them were ventilated by conventional CMV 13.9±14.0 (ranged 2–70) days, FiO2 0.…