Lung volume reduction surgery in a ventilated patient with severe pulmonary emphysema

There are a limited number of reports in the literature cocerning lung volu me reduction surgery in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. We prese nt a case in which a ventilator-dependent patient with apparent endstage pu lmonary emphysema underwent lung volume reduction with a successful outcome . Although the role of this procedure for selected nonventilated patients h as been widely discussed its use in ventilated patients is still not clearl y defined. We show that lung volume reduction surgery may facilitate ventil atory weaning in such cases and improve functional status. (C) 2001 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.