Patients with restrictive lung function for valve surgery

Severe restrictive lung pathology following long-standing valvular disease is not uncommonly seen in developing countries. Acute restrictive pulmonary conditions, corrective surgery, and the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass add to the preexisting lung pathology. This may lead to a difficult postoperative respiratory management culminating in an inability to wean such a patient from the ventilator. We present the successful respiratory management of 3 frail patients with rheumatic heart disease and severe respiratory lung pathology, who underwent valve replacement surgery.