Lung Volume Reduction Surgery - Essay Example

"Lung Volume Reduction Surgery" is a wonderful example of a paper on surgery and rehabilitation. Lung Volume Reduction Surgery (LVRS) is a procedure used to treat patients suffering from Heterogeneous Emphysema. It is an important surgical procedure with possible mortality and morbidity. Emphysema describes broken alveolar walls distal to the fatal bronchioles. The condition develops because distal airspaces expand caused by emphysematous cysts, blebs, and bullae. During the procedure, the expanded air spaces ventilate, highly creating dead space. This leads to reduced breathing efficiency, increased work, and impaired gas exchange (Maxfield, 2004).

LVRS has proved to improve pulmonary function, exercise ability, better life, and survival in selected patients with Emphysema. Despite its benefits, the operation leaves patients with complications like prolonged air leaks leading to lengthy hospitalization according to National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT). This resulted in investigators and medical equipment manufacturers developing minimally invasive techniques, which will achieve lung volume reduction without open thoracotomy (Maxfield, 2004).

Bronchoscopic methods involve inserting a one-way endobronchial valve system into the emphysematous regions of the lung. The objective is to promote atelectasis, by stopping airflow into the bronchus while letting the air flow out. The process enlarges regions of the lung that compressed earlier, lessens hyperinflation and dead space, all of which lead to improved gas exchange in the lungs. Thoracoscopic techniques are available because of prolonged air leaks suffered by LVRS patients. During the procedure, the Emphysemous lung areas compress, causing no air leaks as opposed to standard resection in LVRS (Maxfield, 2004).

Both LVRS and minimally invasive techniques need further testing for the researchers to determine their benefits and shortcomings. This will give a clear perspective of the most favorable minimally invasive technique to substitute the LVRS. Patients with Emphysema and doctors will have choices for lung volume reduction (Maxfield, 2004).

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