Severe bullous emphysema and hypercapnia successfully treated by bronchoscopic lung volume reduction

Patients with severe COPD may develop hypercapnic respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and are at risk of becoming ventilator-dependent. We describe a patient with uncontrollable hypercapnic respiratory failure on mechanical ventilation whose respiratory condition and life were improved after bronchoscopic lung volume reduction. Further discussion of the possibility of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction in patients who require mechanical ventilation due to hypercapnic respiratory failure is warranted.