[Radiologic assessment in lung volume reduction surgery in emphysema]

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Radiology
• Surgical Assessment

Background:

• Severe pulmonary emphysema significantly impacts respiratory mechanics and quality of life.
• Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) aims to improve lung function by removing diseased lung tissue.
• Effective preoperative assessment is crucial for successful LVRS outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present and discuss a developed radiologic protocol for preoperative assessment of patients undergoing LVRS.
• To evaluate the efficacy of this protocol in patient selection and surgical planning.
• To assess the protocol's utility in both pre- and post-operative evaluation.

Main Methods:

• Developed a comprehensive radiologic protocol including standard chest radiographs, CT, HRCT, and air trapping quantitation.
• Assessed diaphragm and chest wall excursions, emphysema patterns, distribution, and heterogeneity.
• Quantified air trapping using dedicated software.
• Conducted pre- and post-operative imaging studies.

Main Results:

• All assessed radiologic parameters showed improvement in patients post-LVRS.
• The diagnostic protocol proved vital for patient selection and LVRS planning.
• The protocol demonstrated value in both pre- and post-operative assessments.

Conclusions:

• The developed radiologic protocol is a valuable tool for preoperative assessment of LVRS candidates.
• Imaging plays a critical role in optimizing patient selection and planning for LVRS.
• The protocol supports comprehensive pre- and post-operative management of emphysema patients undergoing LVRS.