After omental flap transposition, respiratory function and exercise capacity decrease.

To evaluate the effect of respiratory function and exercise capacity after omental flap transposition.From October 2005 to December 2006, we classified mediastinitis patients treated with omental flap transposition (OT group; n = 10) and patients who underwent only cardiovascular surgery without developing complications (control group; n = 25). Percent vital capacity (%VC) was evaluated from the day of returning to the general ward for 5 consecutive days and on 14 days. The day of a 200 m walk was investigated, and the cardiopulmonary exercise test was conducted after discharge. Load and oxygen consumption (VO) at anaerobic threshold (i.e., AT load and AT VO), peak load, and peak VO were measured.%VC significantly decreased in the OT group compared with the control group (P <0.05). An interaction effect between the 2 groups on the change in %VC was observed (F = 2.71, P <0.05). Three patients failed to accomplish a 200 m walk in the ward after omental flap transposition. AT VO and peak VO were significantly lower (P <0.05 and P <0.01, respectively) in the OT group than in the control group.After omental flap transposition, %VC and VO decreased.