Functional Features of External Respiration in Miners

Abstract

Objective: to study external respiratory function in miners with a varying length of underground service in order to further develop differential respiratory therapy for evolving critical conditions.

Materials and methods. The studies were performed in 530 miners who were able-bodied drift miners and diggers from two Novokuznetsk mines (a study group). The group was divided into 4 subgroups in relation to the length of underground service and age. In both groups, expiratory respiratory function was studied on a «MicroLoop» spirometer (Micro Medical Ltd (United Kingdom), by mathematically processing the Results. Velocity and capacity values were measured.

Results. The study has shown similar external respiratory changes: a reduction in capacity indices (vital capacity, forced vital capacity) in the presence of preserved velocity indices, which occur just with a length of underground service of up to 10 years. As the length of underground service and age of the examined miners increase, these disorders progress — there is a significant reduction in capacity and then velocity (MVR 25-50) spirographic characteristics.

Conclusion. While working in the mine, drift miners and diggers develop a mixed type of external respiratory disorders with a preponderance of restrictive ones. Ventilation disorders progress with increases in the length of underground service and age. When a critical condition emerges at this background, adequate respiratory therapy is obviously one of the leading components of successful treatment.