Lung Volume Reduction Surgery for COPD

With age, the lung volume gradually decreases, and so does our capacity for lungs, making breathing slightly more challenging as we age. Reduction in lung volume is also associated with lung diseases like pulmonary fibrosis or sarcoidosis. So when a surgery is performed to reduce lung volume voluntarily, there must be a serious reason and strong rationale behind doing it, and this reason is COPD.

COPD: How serious is this lung disease?

COPD is one of the leading causes of death around the world. It starts with difficulty breathing, breathlessness & chronic cough to reduce the quality of life. It may even end up causing long-term disability and even early death in some cases. COPD is an umbrella term for two significant types of condition that causes the above symptoms – Chronic bronchitis and Emphysema.

So does lung volume reduction surgery treat COPD?

Yes, Lung Volume Reduction Surgery is used to improve breathing in patients who suffer from severe Emphysema, a type of COPD disease commonly diagnosed in India, and according to lung specialist in Hyderabad Dr Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale.

But how effective is lung volume reduction surgery in treating COPD, and what is the outlook after this lung surgery? With his input, we have answered these questions in our blog here. Read in to know the answers:

Lung Volume Reduction Surgery – Procedure, Suitability & Effectiveness in Treating COPD:

Lung volume reduction surgery is a procedure where the damaged part of the lung affected by the disease is removed. Cutting off the small wedges of the damaged part of the lungs allows the remaining lung to function normally and improves the overall breathability of the patient.

However, Lung volume reduction surgery is not recommended for every patient suffering from COPD.

Suitability for Lung Volume Reduction Surgery:

The best candidates for the surgery are the ones younger than 75 years with no smoking record for the past six months and are victims of severe lung damage, usually in the upper part of the lungs.

Evaluating the candidate’s suitability will include pulmonology & imaging studies along with physical testing. And when deemed suitable, they are prepped for the lung surgery procedure under general anaesthesia. The patient who remains asleep is placed under a breathing machine while the lung surgeons carry out the operation.

Lung Volume Reduction Surgery for CPOD – Effectiveness & Recovery

When performed for a suitable candidate, lung volume reduction surgery has improved lung capacity, breathability, and overall quality of life of patients with COPD. The total effectiveness in enabling this usually depends on the disease’s severity, the location of the problem, and the patient’s current health and tolerance for surgery.

Patients who have undergone lung surgery in Hyderabad have reported improved breathability, ability to exercise and a better quality of life, according to the best lung surgeon in Hyderabad, Dr Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale. If you are in Hyderabad and are looking to consult a lung specialist for COPD treatment, you can contact him