Lung volume reduction surgery results in pulmonary emphysema. Changes in pulmonary function.

From December 1993 to August 1998, we conducted 57 lung volume reduction surgeries on patients with severe pulmonary emphysema but without giant bullae. Of these, 26 underwent unilateral lung volume reduction surgery and 31 bilateral surgery. We analyzed the results of thoracoscopic lung volume reduction surgery (unilateral: 25; bilateral: 16) and volume reduction surgery by median sternotomy (unilateral: 1; bilateral: 15). Bilateral surgery via thoracoscope and median sternotomy significantly improved symptoms and pulmonary functions; mean improvement in forced expiratory volume in 1 second was 42.4% for bilateral thoracoscopic volume reduction surgery and 60.0% for median sternotomy. Unilateral volume reduction surgery produced a mean improvement in forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 28.9%. No significant complications were seen with either procedure. Reevaluation at 1 and 2 years after lung volume reduction surgery showed improvement to be well maintained.