Surgery for complications of chronic obstructive lung disease.

Chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) is a clinical entity characterized by chronic airway obstruction that includes pulmonary emphysema and chronic bronchitis with airway obstruction. Although most complications are treated medically, there are a few cases in which medical treatment is not effective and surgical treatment is necessary. Most complications of COLD requiring surgical treatment are those associated with bullous emphysema, such as pneumothorax, lung carcinoma associated with bulla, and infection of bulla. In this article, the indications, practical aspects, and problems and risks of surgical treatment for complications of COLD are discussed.