Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is a procedure that removes damaged parts of your lungs to reduce trapped air. The goal of LVRS is to improve lung function and reduce symptoms in people with COPD. It can improve your quality of life, but doesn’t extend your life expectancy.
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Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is a surgical procedure that removes parts of your lungs to help them work more effectively. LVRS takes out parts of your lungs that are damaged and trapping air.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
LVRS reduces the size of your lungs and allows air to reach healthy parts of your lungs. This means more oxygen from the air can get into your bloodstream and to your tissues.
Providers recommend lung volume reduction surgery to relieve symptoms in certain people with severe emphysema, a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that can trap air in pockets in your lungs.
Providers only recommend LVRS after you’ve quit smoking, and medications and pulmonary rehabilitation aren’t relieving your symptoms. It isn’t a cure for COPD and won’t extend your life. The goal is to help you feel better and improve your quality of life.
Studies suggest only certain people benefit from LVRS. You might be eligible if you:
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To reduce lung volume, a provider can remove the damaged parts of your lung through cuts (incisions) in your chest using a thoracoscopy or a sternotomy (open surgery). Or they can use special valves that allow air to escape but not get trapped (bronchoscopic lung volume reduction). Your surgeon will carefully evaluate your specific situation to determine the best approach.
If a provider is going to remove damaged parts of your lungs, they’ll use one of two techniques:
You may need a number of tests to determine if you’re a good candidate for LVRS based on your symptoms and characteristics of the disease. These include:
Your provider will give you instructions on how to prepare for LVRS. Following their directions closely can reduce your risk of complications. Before LVRS, your provider may ask you to:
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Make sure you tell your provider about all the medications you take, including over-the-counter (OTC) and herbal supplements.
Just before the start of the procedure, a provider might position you to lie on your back or your side. They’ll give you anesthesia that’ll keep you asleep for the surgery.
During a sternotomy or VATS, your surgeon will:
Depending on which kind of procedure you have, LVRS can take one to three hours.
A team of healthcare providers will monitor you until you’re awake. You’ll recover in the hospital for several days after the procedure.
Benefits of lung volume reduction surgery can include:
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While healthcare providers follow procedures to minimize the complications, all surgery comes with risks. Complications of lung volume reduction surgery include:
Any surgery on your lungs is serious and has risks. The mortality (death) rate from LVRS is 3% to 5%.
You should expect to stay in the hospital for three to seven days after LVRS. You’ll start pulmonary rehabilitation within the first few weeks after surgery.
LVRS provides symptom relief and improves quality of life in about half of people who get it. LVRS isn’t a cure for emphysema, so success is determined by whether or not you feel better after surgery. Symptom relief usually lasts two to five years.
Your life expectancy (how long you can expect to live) won’t change after lung volume reduction surgery. But you should feel better and your quality of life may improve.
Ways you can take care of yourself after LVRS include:
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Call your provider with any questions or concerns before or after surgery. Go to the emergency room right away if you have signs of an infection, collapsed lung or other serious complications, including:
A note from Cleveland Clinic
LVRS can improve symptoms for some people with emphysema. While it’s not a cure, it can improve your quality of life and allow you to do more things you enjoy. If your provider recommends LVRS, they think you’re a good fit for the procedure — but be sure you think LVRS is a good fit for you, too. Ask your provider about the benefits and risks of LVRS — having all the information can help you make important decisions about your care.
Last reviewed on 04/22/2024.
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