Lung Volume Reduction Surgery for Emphysema

The prevalence and death rates of emphysema are increasing, but lung volume reduction surgery may offer patients relief from this irreversible disease. In this state-of-the-art medical reference, prominent figures in pulmonary disease present our current understanding of the practice, benefits, and risks of lung volume reduction surgery. Introduced in 1995, this controversial surgical procedure can improve lung function in patients suffering from severe emphysema by removing diseased portions of the lung and allowing the remaining lung tissue to function more normally. In this text, pulmonary and surgical experts explain the physiology of emphysema and the role of surgical therapy in its management. The scientific basis for the operation, patient selection, operative techniques, controversies and complications, and results are covered objectively. Pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, and internists will value this volume in their efforts to offer informed advice and the highest care to their patients suffering from emphysema.