Emphysema Surgery Still Helps 4 Years Later
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Emphysema patients who undergo lung-volume reduction surgery continue to do well more than four years after their surgery, researchers reported in the August issue of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Initial reports of success two years after surgery led to Medicare coverage of the surgery two years ago.
Reducing the volume of the diseased lungs allows the diaphragm to regulate breathing, significantly improving the patients’ quality of life, the researchers said.
