Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Previous studies showed that lung volume reduction (LVR) is considered as a potential palliative surgical option for some patients with end-stage emphysema before lung transplantation surgery.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility and curative effect of lung transplantation for end-stage emphysema who accepted LVR surgery.
METHODS: One patient who accepted secondary LVR surgery because of end-stage emphysema was treated with left lung transplantation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The patient weaned from ventilator at 32 hours after the operation. There were no acute rejection and other complications occurred after the operation. CT scan demonstrated the left lung dilatation and blood perfusion was better at postoperative 25 days, and the lung function was significantly improved at postoperative one month and finally discharged from hospital at postoperative 35 days. Further indicates that lung transplantation surgery followed by LVR is feasible and the lung function is improved greatly after the lung transplantation.