Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease - Surgical Procedures

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The alternative technique is unilateral lung volume reduction. Unilateral means one-sided -- surgery is done on only one lung. Some centers believe this approach may cause fewer complications and slower decline in benefits, although not all evidence supports its use over the bilateral method.

Bullectomy

Another option for COLD is bullectomy, in which giant air pockets and surrounding lung tissue are removed. It is generally limited to younger patients, particularly those with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency.

Review Date: 04/28/2006
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, M.D., Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital