Surgical resection of a giant emphysematous bulla occupying the entire hemithorax.

Surgical bullectomy is the treatment of choice for giant emphysematous bullae; however, when a giant emphysematous bulla occupies the entire hemithorax, and the remaining lung is in a collapsed state for a long period, it is difficult to predict the surgical outcome preoperatively. We report a case of the successful resection of a giant emphysematous bulla occupying the entire hemithorax. A 44-year old man presented with bilateral giant emphysematous bullae. The giant emphysematous bulla on the left side occupied the entire left hemithorax. Further investigation of past chest radiographs helped predict that the left lung could be re-expanded with the recovery of pulmonary function after resection of the giant emphysematous bulla.