title: Effectiveness and efficacy of minimally invasive lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema.
abstract: Lung emphysema is a chronic, progressive and irreversible destruction of the lung tissue. Besides non-medical therapies and the well established medical treatment there are surgical and minimally invasive methods for lung volume reduction (LVR) to treat severe emphysema. This report deals with the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of minimally invasive methods compared to other treatments for LVR in patients with lung emphysema. Furthermore, legal and ethical aspects are discussed. No clear benefit of minimally invasive methods compared to surgical methods can be demonstrated based on the identified and included evidence. In order to assess the different methods for LVR regarding their relative effectiveness and safety in patients with lung emphysema direct comparative studies are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG), Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pertl
authors.affiliation: Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG), Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eisenmann
authors.affiliation: Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG), Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Holzer
authors.affiliation: Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG), Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Anna-Theresa
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Renner
authors.affiliation: Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG), Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valipour
keywords: LVR; LVRS; bronchoscopy; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; lung volume reduction; lung volume reduction surgery; obstructive lung diseases; pneumonectomy; pulmonary emphysema