Mechanisms of Relief of Exertional Breathlessness Following Unilateral Bullectomy and Lung Volume Reduction Surgery in Emphysema

O'Donnell, Denis E.; Webb, Katherine A.; Bertley, John C.; Chau, Laurence.K.L.; Conlan, A. Alan

doi:10.1378/chest.110.1.18

Mechanisms of Relief of Exertional Breathlessness Following Unilateral Bullectomy and Lung Volume Reduction Surgery in Emphysema

Study objective To explore mechanisms of relief of exertional breathlessness following surgery to reduce thoracic gas volume in patients with emphysema. Materials and methods We studied 8 patients with emphysema (FEV1 = 39 +/- 3% predicted; residual volume [RV] = 234 +/- 12% predicted; mean +/- S…