Relation between preoperative inspiratory lung resistance and the outcome of lung-volume-reduction surgery for emphysema.

Background: Surgery to reduce lung volume has recently been reintroduced to alleviate dyspnea and improve exercise tolerance in selected patients with emphysema. A reliable means of identifying patients who are likely to benefit from this surgery is needed.

Methods: We measured lung resistance during inspiration, static recoil pressure at total lung capacity, static lung compliance, expiratory flow rates, and lung volumes in 29 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease before lung-volume-reduction surgery.