Lung Decompression Surgery is a major surgical procedure that requires an open chest or is performed via thoracoscopy, as described below:
Lung reduction surgery is a surgical procedure for the treatment of chronic obstructive emphysema, which is typically performed by removing destroyed lung tissue to reduce physiologic ineffective cavities and pulmonary arteriovenous shunts, thereby reducing the amount of residual air in the lungs, decreasing pulmonary resistance, improving pulmonary ventilation and blood flow, and increasing the elastic retraction of the lungs, which in turn increases gas flow and reduces hyperinflation of the lungs.
By removing these non-functional emphysematous tissues, the extra space in the thoracic cavity allows the remaining lung tissues, as well as the diaphragm, to function better, thus improving clinical symptoms, prolonging patient survival, and improving quality of life.
Currently, the most widely used lung reduction surgery is done through TV thoracoscopy and small incisions in the chest wall, which is effective and less traumatic. Most of the patients’ symptoms, exercise capacity, and lung function indexes can be significantly improved.