RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Improved quality of life after lung volume reduction surgery
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 54
OP 60
DO 10.1183/09031936.02.00462001
VO 19
IS 1
A1 J. Hamacher
A1 S. Büchi
A1 C.L. Georgescu
A1 U. Stammberger
A1 R. Thurnheer
A1 K.E. Bloch
A1 W. Weder
A1 E.W. Russi
YR 2002
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/19/1/54.abstract
AB Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) improves dyspnoea, pulmonary function, and physical performance in patients with severe pulmonary emphysema. This study investigated the impact of LVRS on health-related quality of life (HRQL) over a 2-yr period following surgery. Thirty-nine consecutive patients were prospectively assessed before LVRS, and followed over 24 months postoperatively. The assessments included pulmonary function, dyspnoea (Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea score), 6-min walking distance (6MWD) and HRQL using the Short Form 36-item questionnaire (SF-36) . Several domains of SF-36 improved considerably over 2 yrs after surgery: Physical Functioning: 39±4 (mean±sem) versus 16±2 (p<0.01); Vitality: 51±3 versus 32±3 (p<0.01); Social Functioning: 72±4 versus 51±5 (p<0.01). Also, improvements in pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1): 27±1% predicted, residual volume (RV)/total lung capacity (TLC): 0.65±0.01), 6 MWD (274±16 m) and dyspnoea (MRC: 3.9±01) were sustained for up to 2 yrs after LVRS (FEV1 36±2% pred, RV/TLC: 0.58±0.02; 6 MWD: 342±19 m; MRC: 2.0±0.2; p<0.05). In patients with severe emphysema, lung volume reduction surgery had positive effects on health-related quality of life and pulmonary function over 2 yrs. This study was supported by grant no. 3200-043358; 95.1 from the Swiss National Science Fund and by a grant from the Zürich Lung League.