IMPROVEMENT IN AIRFLOW AND OXYGENATION FOLLOWING COMBINED EXCISION OF PLEURAL MASS AND LUNG VOLUME REDUCTION

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Lung volume reduction surgery has been shown to be an effective treatment for severe heterogenous emphysema, where there is hyperinflation and parenchymal destruction in one area of the lung and relative preservation of tissue and function in the remaining compressed lung. This case illustrates an unusual situation where the relatively preserved lung was compressed and compromised by the emphysematous hyperinflation and also by a large intrapleural mass. It also demonstrates that very low forced expiratory volume within 1 second (FEV1) is not a contraindication for thoracic surgery if recruitment of viable lung tissue is expected as a result of the surgery.