Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction surgery in emphysema
Strausz, J.án.
Orvosi Hetilap 147(9): 395-398
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-6002 PMID: 16619957 Document Number: 602409
Despite of the clinical studies proving the benefits of lung volume reduction surgery and determining the indications and candidates, the surgical intervention has not penetrated into the standard treatment of emphysema. Perioperative mortality is relatively high at patients with end-stage emphysema, therefore a less invasive procedure might be most useful in medical practice. Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction is a technically simple procedure including insertion of a bronchial blocker (plug) or an endobronchial valve, either totally blocking the air flow, or blocking it only during the inspiration. However, there are only few clinical data available concerning of surgical and bronchial interventions. A multinational clinical study is in progress in three Hungarian pulmonological centers implanting endobronchial plugs into the subsegmental bronchi of patients with severe emphysema.