Lung Volume Reduction Surgery Tops Rehab for Emphysema

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 14 Jun 2005 - 7:00 PDT

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Patients with severe emphysema can achieve considerably greater improvements in bone mineral density (BMD) by undergoing lung volume reduction surgery than from rehabilitation, according to a new study.

Researchers in Rome, Italy selected, 70 male patients with severe emphysema, who were advised to undergo lung volume reduction surgery. Forty patients decided to undergo surgery, while the other 30 chose to participate, instead, in a standard respiratory rehabilitation program.

Patients who underwent surgery experienced significant improvements in respiratory, symptomatic, anthropometric, and biochemical parameters, whereas patients in rehabilitation experienced a worsening of bone-related hormones and turnover markers without recovering bone mass. The most significant improvements in BMD were in the 19 patients who underwent surgery and quit oral steroids.

The 21 other patients who underwent surgery but continued taking oral steroids also experienced improvements with BMD, but to a lesser degree. Researchers conclude that lung volume reduction surgery is better for improving BMD than rehabilitation, whether or not the patient continues taking oral steroids. The study appears in the June issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians.

News briefs from the journal CHEST June 2005
Contact: Jennifer Stawarz
jstawarz@chestnet.org
847-498-8306
American College of Chest Physicians
http://www.chestnet.org