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COPD

Surgery

	In rare cases, surgery may benefit some people who have COPD. Surgery usually is a last resort for people who have severe symptoms that have not improved from taking medicines.
	Surgeries for people who have COPD that's mainly related to emphysema include bullectomy (bul-EK-to-me) and lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). A lung transplant may be done for people who have very severe COPD

Bullectomy

	A bullectomy may be done for some people with COPD who have severe symptoms and giant bullae. A bulla is a large air sac (the plural form is bullae). A giant bulla may compress the good lung.
	This surgery removes the bulla and may make it easier for more oxygen to get into the blood because the good lung can expand. However, this surgery is indicated in only a few patients.

Lung Volume Reduction Surgery - LVRS

	Lung Volume Reduction Surgery aims to reduce breathing problems by removing areas of the lung which are not working in people with severe COPD or with upper-lobe emphysema.
	This allows the remaining lung tissue to work more effectively. However, it is still quite a new form of treatment, and may not benefit some people with very severe lung function impairment.

Lung Transplant

	Most of the time, lung transplants are recommended only for people with very advanced COPD, who don't smoke, and who won't live long unless they have the transplant.
	If a person qualifies for a lung transplant, they are put on a wait list for a donation. The wait may be long.
	Surgeons take out one of the lungs and replace it with a healthy lung. People who get transplants must take anti-rejection medicines (immunosuppressants) for the rest of their lives. However, lung transplants have a high risk of complications. These include

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Infections and death due to the body rejecting the transplanted lung.

If you have very severe COPD, talk to your doctor about whether a lung transplant is an option. Discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of this type of surgery.

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