title: [Lung volume reduction surgery for chronic pulmonary emphysema in elderly patients].
abstract: We have performed thoracoscopic lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) for severe chronic pulmonary emphysema irrespective of the patient's age. Between May 1993 and April 2004, 9 patients older than 75 years underwent LVRS at our hospital. Three of the 9 patients substantially improved lung function and quality of life after LVRS. One patient slightly improved them but went back to the preoperative condition 5 years after LVRS. The other 5 patients showed no clinical improvement after LVRS, 3 of the 5 developed CO2 narcosis and failed weaning from the respirator. Although patient's age older than 75 years is not contra-indication for LVRS, careful selection is needed for LVRS in elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Advanced Surgical Science and Technology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kaiwa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kurokawa
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012015:Reference Standards; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods