We provide care in three easily-accessible locations across the Rio Grande Valley.
1604 East 8th St., Suite A
Weslaco, TX
Phone: (956) 447-5557
5300 North McColl Rd., Suite 100
McAllen, TX
Phone: (956) 630-1000
1022 E. Griffin Pkwy.
Mission, TX 78572
Phone: (956) 833-6000
Patients who suffer from advanced COPD often have areas of their lungs that have been damaged by their disease. These injured areas can limit the efficiency of the lungs, causing symptoms such as shortness of breath. The goal of lung volume reduction surgery is to excise these parts of the lungs in order to free them up to perform more efficiently.
Often after this type of surgery, patients begin to breathe more easily. Patients younger than 75, those who have not smoked for at least 6 months, those whose lung damage is primarily in the upper part of the lung, and those who have not experienced significant improvement from pulmonary rehab often make good candidates for this procedure.
If you have been told you need LVRS, you may have questions about this treatment approach. Feel free to check out these FAQs and reach out to our professionals for assistance with any remaining questions you may have. We are here to help!
Lung Volume Reduction Surgery (LVRS) is a surgical procedure that involves removing small sections of damaged lung tissue in order to reduce the overall volume of the lung and improve breathing. It is typically used for patients with emphysema, a chronic lung disease characterized by damage to the air sacs in the lungs.
LVRS is typically recommended for patients with severe emphysema who have difficulty breathing, despite receiving other forms of treatment such as bronchodilators and oxygen therapy. Candidates for LVRS should also be in good general health and able to tolerate the procedure.
LVRS can be performed through either a thoracotomy, an open-chest procedure or Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) a minimally invasive procedure. In both procedures, small sections of damaged lung tissue are removed through small incisions made in the chest.
The risks associated with LVRS include bleeding, infection, and pneumothorax. Additionally, there is a risk that the surgery may not be able to improve the patient’s symptoms or that the patient’s lung function may decline after surgery.
Recovery time after LVRS varies depending on the extent of the surgery and the patient’s overall health. Patients typically spend several days to a week in the hospital, with several weeks of recovery at home before returning to normal activities. However, full recovery may take several months.
Lung capacity can be improved through various methods such as exercise, breathing techniques and physical therapy. These can help to improve lung function, reduce shortness of breath, and increase lung capacity. However, the effectiveness of these methods will vary depending on the underlying cause of the lung capacity issues.
The effectiveness of Lung Volume Reduction Surgery (LVRS) varies depending on the patient’s condition and response to the surgery. Studies have shown that LVRS can improve lung function and reduce symptoms such as shortness of breath in selected patients with emphysema. However, not all patients will experience significant improvements and the procedure also carries certain risks and side effects. Therefore, it’s important to discuss with your doctor if LVRS is suitable for you, and what are the expected results.