PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - F. Venuta
AU  - M. Anile
AU  - D. Diso
AU  - C. Carillo
AU  - T. De Giacomo
AU  - A. D'Andrilli
AU  - F. Fraioli
AU  - E.A. Rendina
AU  - G.F. Coloni
TI  - Long term follow up after bronchoscopic lung volume reduction in patients with emphysema
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.00071311
DP  - 2011 Jan 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - erj00713-2011
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2011/10/13/09031936.00071311.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2011/10/13/09031936.00071311.full
AB  - Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) is a novel emphysema therapy. We evaluated long-term outcome in patients with heterogeneous emphysema undergoing BLVR with one-way valves.Forty patients undergoing unilateral BLVR entered this study. Preoperative mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was 0.88 L·s−1 (23%), total lung capacity (TLC) was 7.45 L (121%), intrathoracic gas volume was 6 L (174%), residual volume (RV) was 5.2 L (232%), the 6-minute-walk-test (6MWT) was 286 meters. All patients required supplemental oxygen; the Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea score was 3.9. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) were reviewed to assess the presence of interlobar fissures.33 patients had a follow-up longer than 12 months (median: 32 months). 37.5% of the patients had visible interlobar fissures. 40% of the patients died during follow-up. Three patients were transplanted and 1 underwent lung volume reduction surgery. Supplemental O2, FEV1, RV, 6MWT and MRC score showed a statistically significant improvement (p=<0.0001, 0.004, 0.03, 0.003, <0.0001 respectively). Patients with visible fissures had a functional advantage.BLVR is feasible and safe. Long-term sustained improvements can be achieved. HRCT visible interlobar fissures is a favorable prognostic factor.No funding was obtained for this study