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Document Details : Title: Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) for emphysema: initial experience at the University Hospital Gasthuisberg Author(s): VERPEUT AC, VERLEDEN GM, VAN RAEMDONCK D, DECRAMER M, LERUT T, DEMEDTS M, AND THE LEUVEN LVRS GROUP Journal: Acta Clinica Belgica Volume: 55 Issue: 3 Date: 2000 Pages: 154-162 DOI: 10.2143/ACB.55.3.1002894 Abstract : Emphysema is a disabling disease, for which there is no curative therapy available today. Lung transplantation offers a valuable option for a very selected number of patients, however, due to the enormous organ shortage, only few patients can be offered such a therapy. Recently there has been important resurgence of interest in lung volume reduction surgery and as a consequence, we have embarked in such a programme since May 1997. We have now performed unilateral lung volume reduction surgery in 29 emphysema patients (25 on the right and 4 on the left side). Twenty-four patients were already discharged home. There has been no perioperative mortality. The mean hospital stay was 19.8 ± 11.4 days (range, 8-47 d). Twenty patients of whom we already have follow-up data during 6 months (m) form the further basis of this report. |
