Long-Term Results After Lung Volume Reduction Surgery: A Single Institution's Experience

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Thoracic Surgery
• Critical Care

Background:

• The National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) established survival and quality of life benefits for selected lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) patients.
• Long-term outcomes following LVRS remain incompletely understood.
• This study aimed to assess long-term mortality and functional durability after LVRS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term overall mortality in patients who underwent LVRS.
• To assess the functional durability and quality of life improvements post-LVRS.
• To provide insights into the long-term efficacy of LVRS in a single-institution cohort.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of a single-institution registry of patients who underwent LVRS between January 2006 and August 2017.
• Data collection included pulmonary function tests, University of California, San Diego Shortness of Breath Questionnaire scores, and complication/mortality rates.
• Analysis focused on overall mortality, changes in pulmonary function, and patient-reported outcomes.

Main Results:

• LVRS was performed on 135 patients, with a 90-day mortality rate of 2.2%.
• Estimated 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival rates were 94%, 91%, and 71%, respectively.
• Significant improvements were observed in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), maximum workload, and shortness of breath scores at various follow-up intervals.

Conclusions:

• LVRS is an effective surgical intervention for appropriately selected patients with severe emphysema.
• The procedure demonstrates sustained improvements in functional status and quality of life.
• Long-term data supports the continued role of LVRS in managing select emphysema patients.