title: Lung volume reduction: surgical treatment for emphysema.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lung volume reduction surgery is currently being investigated as a method of improving the respiratory function of patients with end-stage emphysema.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article reviews the current literature on lung volume reduction surgery and proposes a multidisciplinary team approach to postoperative management.
  
  
  METHODS
  We did a MEDLINE search and retrieved relevant articles. We selected and reviewed nine medical articles published in 1993, 1995, and 1996; one medical article from 1959; and one of four nursing articles. Overall, the articles describe the different techniques of median sternotomy and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and unilateral versus bilateral procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lung volume reduction surgery is beneficial, but further investigation is required.
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Telemetry Unit, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Newsome
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Ott
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome