[Severe emphysema treated by lung volume reduction surgery].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate criteria of screening surgical candidates and clinical effects of lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) for severe emphysema.


METHODS
20 patients with severe emphysema under went resection of the targeted overinflated, destructive and dysfunction pulmonary tissue by linear stapler or Endo-GIA and sternotomy approach or video-assistant thoracoscopy. 20% - 30% of the volume of each lung was resected.


RESULTS
After operation, dyspnea evidently alleviated or disappeared. Pulmonary function: FEV(1) increased by 41.4%, RV, TLC decreased by 27.5% and 22.7% respectively. PaO(2) increased by 12.6 mm Hg. Six-minute walk test increased by 55.8%. There was significant difference above indexes between preoperation and postoperation (P < 0.01). Eight patients were complicated by a prolonged air leakage (> 7 days), and one by irritable digestive ulcer and bleeding. No death occurred during perioperation.


CONCLUSIONS
LVRS is an effective for severe emphysema.
Liu
J
J
Department of Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Beijing Unit, People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100700.
Varoli
F
F
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000601:surgery*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D013908:Thoracotomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome