title: The nursing of a patient following lung volume reduction surgery.
abstract: Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is an experimental surgical procedure that aims to alleviate the symptoms of breathlessness for patients with end-stage chronic emphysema. Emphysema (from the Greek for 'puff up') is a progressive chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and risk factors include smoking and chronic infections. The disease causes the alveoli of the lung to over-expand and lose their elasticity (Schedel and Connolly, 1999). Advanced emphysema causes severe dyspnoea that significantly reduces the patient's quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Papworth Hospital NHS Trust, Cambridge.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D001945:Breathing Exercises; D015505:Chest Tubes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000451:nursing*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000451:nursing*; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000451:nursing / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*