title: A case of lung volume reduction surgery with decortication for a septic patient in respiratory failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Decortication and lung volume reduction surgery are both major operations and each has its independent risk of morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a 41 year old gentleman with left sided empyema and giant bullae of the upper lobe with an active air leak that was transferred to our tertiary referral centre for further management. We performed emergency left thoracotomy, decorticated the left lower lobe with extensive lung volume reduction surgery of the upper lobe. Patient's respiratory status significantly improved along with excellent radiological results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our case demonstrates that a combination of complex procedures is feasible with excellent outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cork University Hospital, Ireland. Electronic address: munirtarazi@rcsi.ie.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tarazi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cork University Hospital, Ireland. Electronic address: nmayooran@rcsi.ie.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mayooran
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cork University Hospital, Ireland. Electronic address: anwer253@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anwer
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cork University Hospital, Ireland. Electronic address: anjummn@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Anjum
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cork University Hospital, Ireland. Electronic address: corkkishore@gmail.com.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doddakula
keywords: Bullae; Decortication; Emphysema; Lung-volume-reduction; Thoracic surgery