Urgent lung volume reduction surgery is effective for secondary pneumothorax in emphysema patients

Annalisa Barbarossa; Dirk Van Raemdonck; Walter Weder; Laurens J Ceulemans

doi:10.1093/icvts/ivad099

Urgent lung volume reduction surgery is effective for secondary pneumothorax in emphysema patients

Interdiscip Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2023 Jun 1;36(6):ivad099. doi: 10.1093/icvts/ivad099.

Authors

Annalisa Barbarossa^{1

2}, Dirk Van Raemdonck^{1

2}, Walter Weder³, Laurens J Ceulemans^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Thoracic Surgery, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
² Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, BREATHE, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
³ Department of Thoracic Surgery, Bethanien Klinik, Zürich, Switzerland.

Abstract

Secondary pneumothorax due to emphysema can be life-threatening and requires surgery in most situations. Here, we extended lung resection to close the fistula using lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). We present a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax referred after ineffective treatment by chemical pleurodesis. Urgent LVRS followed by elective LVRS was performed obtaining air-leak resolution and significantly improving pulmonary function and quality of life. We discuss the surgical technique and effectiveness of LVRS as a treatment for pneumothorax.

Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Emphysema; Lung volume reduction surgery; Pneumothorax.