This article provides information about emphysema, how it develops, treatment methods, emphysema surgery, when surgery is necessary, and the associated risks. Additionally, it addresses surgical methods and post-surgery hospitalization duration to answer your questions.
What Is Emphysema and How Does It Develop?
- Emphysema is a chronic airway disease caused by the abnormal and permanent enlargement of the distal airways in the lung tissue.
- The most common cause of emphysema is smoking and the consumption of tobacco products.
- Other causes include prolonged exposure to polluted air and genetic conditions.
What Are the Treatment Methods for Emphysema?
- Emphysema is a condition treated with medication.
- In advanced cases, additional mechanical support may be necessary to assist breathing.
- Emphysema is treated by pulmonologists.
- In some advanced cases, your doctor may suggest surgery. In such cases, a thoracic surgeon’s evaluation is sought, and additional tests are conducted before proceeding with surgery.
Why Is Emphysema Surgery Necessary?
Surgery is only beneficial for a small percentage of emphysema patients. In rare cases, when medication proves insufficient and the disease progresses, surgical intervention may be necessary to extend the patient’s life. This involves removing non-functional air spaces within the lungs to enable healthier lung areas to function better and facilitate easier breathing.
What Do International Guidelines Recommend?
Surgical treatment for emphysema has been shown to increase survival in patients meeting specific criteria. The decision for surgical intervention should be made collaboratively by pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons.
The chart shows that mortality rates in patients undergoing emphysema surgery (LVRS) are lower compared to those receiving medical treatment.
What Are the Surgical Methods for Emphysema?
It is possible to perform surgery on one lung or both lungs separately via open surgery or endoscopic methods (Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery – VATS).
These methods remove the non-functional air-filled areas located on the outer parts of the lungs, allowing the healthy lung tissue to expand and facilitate easier breathing.
A single incision beneath both breasts or opening the sternum allows intervention on both lungs in a single session. The choice depends on the patient and the condition of the emphysema.
What Are the Risks of Emphysema Surgery?
- Air leaks from the lungs,
- Prolonged intensive care treatment,
- Bleeding,
- Need for re-operation,
- Infection, and
- Mortality.
Precautions should be taken before surgery to minimize these risks.
The lung CT scan below shows the air-filled emphysematous areas that need to be removed surgically.
How Many Days Will I Stay in the Hospital for Surgery?
After procedures performed on the right and left lungs in separate sessions, patients typically stay in the hospital for 7-10 days per session.
In some cases, a single-sided operation may suffice. In such instances, surgery on the other side can be performed a few months to several years later, depending on the recurrence of symptoms.
How Is Emphysema Surgery Performed?
The air-filled, non-functional spaces around the lungs are removed. Special precautions are taken to prevent air leaks from these areas. A drain is placed in the chest cavity at the end of the surgery, and a special (epidural) catheter is used to prevent pain. The patient is monitored in intensive care for 1 or 2 days post-surgery.
