The barrel deformity of the chest, the senile lung and obstructive pulmonary emphysema

Abstract

1. 1. A study has been made of the physiological basis of senile emphysema. 2. 2. Measurements of the chest and physiological studies of lung function were carried out in a group of aged subjects who had a marked barrel deformity of the chest. Similar studies were performed in a group of subjects with obstructive pulmonary emphysema, in an unselected group of aged subjects and in a group of healthy young subjects. 3. 3. Comparison of the mean values for total lung capacity, functional residual capacity, residual volume, intrapulmonary distribution of inspired gas, maximum breathing capacity, arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation and arterial carbon dioxide tension failed to reveal any significant difference between the group of aged subjects with a marked barrel deformity of the chest and the unselected aged subjects. Additional studies were discussed which also have failed to disclose changes characteristic of those subjects with the barrel deformity of the chest. 4. 4. It was concluded that physiological evidence for any condition such as senile, postural or non-obstructive emphysema is lacking.