[Results of unilateral lung volume reduction surgery in twenty-five patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of unilateral lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).


METHODS
The follow-up data of 25 patients with COPD who had underwent unilateral LVRS between January 1996 to December 2002 in department of thoracic surgery, China-Japan friendship hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The operative target was determined by pre-operative CT and pulmonary ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scintigraphy. LVRS was performed in 21 patients through video assisted thoracoscopy surgery (VATS) or VATS with adjuvant small lateral thoracotomy. In 4 patients LVRS was performed through posterolateral thoracotomy. Destroyed pulmonary tissue was resected by liner stapler or Endo GIA. To evaluate the effectiveness of unilateral LVRS, the changing of dyspnea score, pulmonary function and the quality of life were analyzed.


RESULTS
The postoperative follow-up interval range was 2 years. The mean postoperative FEV(1) increased by (35 +/- 9)%, and six minute walking distance (6MWD) increased by (88 +/- 22)%. For dyspnea score, among 16 patients with a preoperative grade of IV, 4 patients improved to grade I, 12 improved to grade II; among 9 patients with a preoperative grade of V, 1 improved to grade I, 1 improved to grade II, 4 improved to grade III, and the other 3 improved to grade IV. Karnofsky score increased by (44 +/- 10) in average. One and two year survival rates was 96% and 92%, respectively. There was no perioperative death in this group, and the total postoperative morbidity was 32%.


CONCLUSIONS
Unilateral LVRS shows significant clinical benefits for the majority of patients with COPD. It is associated with lower operative mortality and morbidity, and has a wide range of indications. The key points of the operation are to resect dysfunctional lung tissues as much as possible and to prevent pulmonary air leak. Preoperative and postoperative breathing training plays a very important role in the postoperative recovering of lung function.
Liang
Chao-yang
CY
Department of Thoracic Surgery, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China.
Liu
De-ruo
DR
Shi
Bin
B
Tian
Yan-chu
YC
Li
Fu-tian
FT
Zhao
Feng-rui
FR
Guo
Yong-qing
YQ
Shou
Yan-ning
YN
Zhang
Hai-tao
HT
Wang
Zai-yong
ZY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000191:economics; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate