Reduction pneumonoplasty for emphysema. Early results.

OBJECTIVE: The authors determined the role of Nd:YAG laser reduction pneumonoplasty for selected patients with diffuse emphysema. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The study is based on the concepts introduced 30 years ago by Brantigan regarding the value of lung reduction surgery in patients with emphysema. The authors used minimally invasive techniques with the hopes of providing appropriate clinical results with the least surgical morbidity. METHODS: Fifty-five patients with advanced symptomatic emphysema were treated with unilateral Nd:YAG laser reduction pneumonoplasty to achieve lung volume reduction. RESULTS: Patients experienced significant improvement in exercise capacity and relief of breathlessness. This correlated with improvement in objective measures of pulmonary function and with reduction in lung volume by radiographic and spirometric measures. Significant associated hospital morbidity and a 5.5% mortality were associated. CONCLUSIONS: These encouraging results with treatment of only one lung will be built on with both sequential lung and simultaneous, bilateral lung treatment protocols.

Effect of continuous positive airway pressure on lung mechanics during high-frequency jet ventilation.

Six mongrel dogs were studied in a body plethysmograph to ascertain the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) during high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV), using an open system allowing gas entrainment. Increases in CPAP significantly reduced tidal volume. Increases in HFJV and inspiratory fraction caused progressively larger increases in functional residual capacity (FRC). Higher levels of CPAP dramatically reduced HFJV's effect on FRC, but lower levels of CPAP augmented this effect. At constant CPAP, tidal volume correlated well with the difference between peak airway pressure and CPAP, while the FRC change was correlated with the difference between end-expiratory pressure and CPAP. The relationship between end-expiratory airway pressure and total change in FRC was predictable from lung compliance at all levels of CPAP.