To determine the period and degree of full recovery of postoperative pulmonary function, the author performed seiral pulmonry function test with spirometry at preoperative period and 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 8th postoperative week in 64 patients who underwent chest surgery form 1990. 1. to 1990. 8. at Dep. of Thoracic & Cardiovascular surgery, Pusan National University Hospitcal, Pusan, Korea 28 patients underwent lung resection[Group A], 14 patients mediastinal and other thoracic surgery[Group B], and 22 patients heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass[Group C]. Al of them recovered normally and discharged without any complications. Their serial changes of pulmonary function test were compaired and its results was as follows; l. Over all mean recovery time of restrictive ventilatory function tests[ie, VC, ERV, IC, FEF1, FVC, FEF200-1200, MVV] were 4th & 6th postoperative week, and that of obstructive ventilatory function tests[ie., EFE25-75%, Vmax50] were 2nd postoperative week. 2. In patient who underwent lung resection surgery[Group A], FEF1 recovered in 4th~6th postoperative week and its ratio to preoperative value was 70% in pneumonectomy, and 75% in lobectomy. FVC recovered in 4th~6th postoperative week and its ratio to preoperative value was 65% in pneumonectomy, and 80% in lobectomy. MVV was recovered in 4th~8th postoperative week and recovery ratio was 80%, FEF200-1200 was recovered at 4th~6th postoperative week and its recovery ratio was 70%, FEF25-75% and Vmax50 was recovered in 2nd~4th postoperative week and recovered nearly to preoperative level. 3. In patient who underwent mediastinal and other thoracic surgery[Group B], FEV1 and FVC and recovered in 4th~6th postoperative week and the recovery ratio of FVC in blebectomy was 90%. MVV reached preoperative level in 4th~8th postoperative week. FEF200-1200, FEF25-75% and Vmax50 were recovered in 2nd~4th postoperative week and the recovery of FEF25-75% and Vmax50 in blebectomy was prominant. 4. In patient who underwent heart surgery[Group C], FEV1 and FVC were recovered in 4th~6th postoperative week. The recover ratio of FEF25-75% and Vmax50 was delaied to 6th~8th postoperative week From the above results we concluded that the recovery time of posoperative restrictive ventilatory disorder was 4th postoperative week and pulmonary complication would possibly occure during that period. So more intensive observations will be needed.