Surgical approaches to advanced emphysema.

The care of patients with advanced emphysema requires an understanding of both medical and surgical therapy for this disease. Current surgical approaches to advanced emphysema include bullectomy, lung volume reduction surgery, and lung transplantation. Each procedure is applicable to a specific subset of patients. This article reviews the evaluation and selection of patients for each procedure, as well as operative and postoperative management, mechanisms by which surgery improves function, and overall outcomes after each procedure.