Surgical considerations in the management of giant emphysematous bullae

Nine cases with giant emphysematous bullae causing progressive incapacitating dyspnea due to gradual but progressive compression of adjacent lung tissue are reviewed. All the patients selected for surgery had peripheral arterial oxygen saturation of not less than 92 percent at rest. A total of 13 excisions was carried out in the nine patients with resultant increase in their postoperative arterial oxygen tension and improvement in exercise tolerance. There were no deaths from the operations.