Mid-term effects of lung volume reduction surgery on pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
BACKGROUND
Now lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) has become one of the most effective methods for the management of some cases of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We evaluated the mid-term effects of LVRS on pulmonary function in patients with severe COPD.


METHODS
Ten male patients with severe COPD aged 38 - 70 years underwent LVRS and their pulmonary function was assessed before, 3 months and 3 years after surgery. The spirometric and gas exchange parameters included residual volume, total lung capacity, inspiratory capacity, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, diffusion capacity for CO, and arterial blood gas. A 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) test was performed.


RESULTS
As to preoperative assessment, most spirometric parameters and 6MWD were significantly improved after 3 months and slightly 3 years after LVRS. Gas exchange parameters were significantly improved 3 months after surgery, but returned to the preoperative levels after 3 years.


CONCLUSIONS
LVRS may significantly improve pulmonary function in patients with severe COPD indicating for LVRS. Mid-term pulmonary function 3 years after surgery can be decreased to the level at 3 months after surgery. Three years after LVRS, lung volume and pulmonary ventilation function can be significantly improved, but the improvement in gas exchange function was not significant.
Liu
Jin-Ming
JM
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Pulmonary Function Test Laboratory and Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pneumology Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China. Jinming_Liu@hotmail.com
Yang
Wen-Lan
WL
Jiang
Ge-Ning
GN
Ding
Jia-An
JA
Zheng
Wei
W
Liu
Wen-Zeng
WZ
Wang
Ying-Min
YM
Gao
Bei-Lan
BL
Jiang
Ping
P
Wu
Wen
W
Li
Xia
X
Bjorn
Jonson
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013997:Time Factors