Hi Cindy, I hope you are not needing this and the reason why you're asking. It is a sugary that takes part of a lung out for various reasons. Sometimes it is necessary to remove cancer, or bad sections of the lung that are damaged and taking up space.
It is a common surgery and can be helpful to make breathing a little easier for some patients. I had a friend just have it a month ago to remove cancer, still recovering from it.

I guess I had lung reduction but nobody called lung reduction,at least not when I had it in 2010 but every country is different with their own protocols....

The surgery consist in taking off the most damaged part (often at the apex of the lungs: bullae, where in air is trapped, and unusefully taking a lot of place for the better part of lungs), surgeons take them off, or let them but plicate them, or insert valves (like Zephyr).

@A MyCOPDTeam Member Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is done for severe Emphysema with Hyperinflated lungs. At a severe stage, there is simply no more place for lungs to inflate/deflate within the thorax, because of blebs and bullea. Therefor, people are very incapacitated, and can't function properly, especially to exercice. The procedures of LVRS have evolved, but still quite risky. But some of the patients doesn't have much the choice to have a better quality of life than to try it (my case).
LVRS improves exercise capacity, lung function, and quality of life in patients with heterogenous emphysema on computed tomographic and perfusion scan. However, most patients have a nonheterogenous type of destruction. These patients, summarized under "homogeneous emphysema," may also benefit from LVRS as long they are severely hyperinflated, and adequate function is remaining with a diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide greater than 20% and no pulmonary hypertension. Surgical mortality is low when patients are well selected.
Hugs! 🧸

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@A MyCOPDTeam Member I don't think there is a limitation criteria in age, but well strong inclusion/exclusion criteria - might depend on the doctors and hospitals you refer to. Hugs!💞🧸

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