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Emphysema patients benefit from one-sided lung reduction (1)

Cod. A24042006

By Gwen Ericson


April 4, 2006 -- In many cases of advanced emphysema — a chronic, progressive lung condition that interferes with breathing — reducing the size of the lungs by surgically removing lobes from both sides has been shown to improve both survival and quality of life. But some emphysema patients can't tolerate this bilateral operation.


1.Lung volume reduction surgery showing the stapler and the typical location of resection of the lung
Now a study conducted by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of Pennsylvania Health System has shown that unilateral, or one-sided, lung volume reduction surgery has significant benefits for some emphysema patients, offering help to those who are not candidates for the bilateral surgery.

2.The researchers described their work in January at the 42nd annual meeting of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, a not-for-profit educational organization representing more than 4,800 chest surgeons worldwide.

"A certain subset of emphysema patients are poor candidates for bilateral surgery," says Bryan Meyers, M.D., associate professor of surgery. "Patients who have scarring on one side of their chest from past surgery, patients with coexisting heart conditions and the small segment of patients whose emphysema affects only one side of their lungs — these are all candidates for a unilateral lung volume reduction procedure."

3.The presentation at the annual meeting discussed outcomes for 49 emphysema patients who underwent unilateral lung volume reduction surgery at the School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. After the procedure, the patients on average had over 30 percent increased lung function as measured by how much air they could blow out with a vigorous breath in one second. Although the improvement in function gradually decreased, as expected with this incurable and progressive disease, the benefits lasted at least three years for the average patient.

4.Tests also showed that the unilateral surgery patients had lower amounts of air left in the lung after exhalation, indicating they could exhale more thoroughly. This improvement also gradually decreased but lasted at least five years for the average patient.

In addition, requirements for supplemental oxygen declined substantially after the operation....continues