Can Transplant reduce FEV1 lung parameter?

I have a lower than normal FEV1 lung measurement.  That is the amount of air that can be expelled from the lungs in 1 second.  Can the transplant incision, which cuts many abdominal muscles below the ribcage, affect this breathing parameter?

I've had the liver transplant nurse tell me that there can not be any change since no muscles are involved in breathing other than the diaphram.  I was dissapointed to hear this since I know better.

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

...a very good question.  I really do not think so although there rarely can be some diaphragmatic nerve injury at the time of the transplant.  if one is splinting due to pain, the FEV1 I presume would be decreased but it should not be decreased on a chronjic basis as far as i know.