Emphysema Treatment: Researchers Present 2 Lung Volume Reduction Procedures Against the Chronic Disease

Results from a recently published study of lung volume reduction surgery or LVRS and bronchoscopic lung volume reduction or BVLR were presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

As specified in a EurekAlert! report, this first randomized control trial "to compare two different lung volume reduction procedures for people suffering from emphysema" has shown that both lead to similar enhancements in lung function, exercise capacity, and breathlessness.

LVRS and BVLR Procedures

Essentially, LVRS involves a keyhole operation into the chest to access the lungs and take out the lung areas most affected by emphysema.

Meanwhile, with BVLR, the procedure is performed using a fiber optic camera inserted into the lungs through the nose and mouth.

One-way valves or endobronchial valves are placed into the airways that lead to the targeted lobe of the lung, causing its almost complete deflation.

Emphysema, as described in a Mayo Clinic report, is a chronic lung disease typically caused by smoking.

The air sacs' or alveoli's walls in the lung are weakening and disintegrating, leaving abnormally large air spaces behind that stay filled with air even when the patient is breathing out.

Emphysema symptoms include coughing, breathlessness, weight loss, and fatigue. In individuals where the lung damage is unevenly spread, treatment targets the worst part of the illness by reducing the lung volume by about 20 to 30 percent, which can enhance airflow and exchange of gases in the lungs' remaining portions.

Both Procedures Exhibit Positive Results

Research physiotherapist Sara Buttery, a Ph.D. candidate at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, said both procedures had generated positive results regarding lung function, exercise capacity, breathlessness, and quality of life.

To date, there has been no direct comparison of the two to decide when an individual appears suitable for the two procedures.

Between the two, BLVR is a less invasive choice, and is thought to be "less risky," explained Buttery, adding, that until now, there has not been significant research to back this.

The results of this research will be essential for both the patients and clinicians in guiding decision-making around which option for treatment to choose when an individual is suitable for either procedure, providing more evidence around exceptive results and risks.

Ideal Procedure Depending on Individual Preference

Information from computerized tomography or CT scans reveals the overall health of the person, whether or not they have other, substantial medical conditions, and whether they have frequent flare-ups of their illness, as well as individual preference, all add to the decision of whether a lung volume reduction procedure is best for them and which procedure might be favored.

Results may differ depending on the patients after either procedure, although they need to be able to do more, with lesser symptoms, as the European Respiratory Society specified in a similar report.

For instance, they might be able to play with young kids, walk up the stairs without the need to sit down to recover, or be able to walk one mile minus the need to stop.

Related information about emphysema is shown on Armando Hasudungan's YouTube video below:

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