Medical treatment of emphysema does not alter the natural progression of the disease. Surgical techniques are an attractive conceptual approach to treat hyperinflation in these patients. Lung volume reduction surgery and lung transplantation are appropriate therapeutic options for a selected population with emphysema. We will review the available evidence to support these approaches.

Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) has recently been introduced as a palliative treatment for patients with severe emphysema. The most common postoperative complication is persistent air leak requiring prolonged tube thoracostomy. We describe a unique case of a patient with severe emphysema who underwent LVRS and presented, about a year later, with the repeated expectoration of surgical staples.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is common and has significant morbidity mortality as the fourth leading cause of death in United States. In many patients, particularly those with emphysema, COPD characterized by markedly increased residual volume contributing to exertional dyspnea. Current therapies have limited efficacy. Surgical resection diseased areas lung reduce was effective ...

Orbital floor fractures are generally the result of blowout orbital and may be associated with orbital emphysema leading to proptosis and even to loss of vision. A 49-year-old woman fractured the orbital floor in a fall. After blowing her nose, she developed exophthalmos and severe reduction in vision. She consulted our department and underwent emergency surgical management with orbital drainag...

Answer 1 The patient developed facial subcutaneous emphysema as a result of her dental procedure. Subcutaneous emphysema refers to the collection of air beneath the subcutaneous tissue. It is more commonly seen in facial bone fractures, infection by gas-producing organisms, tracheostomies and anterior neck dissections.1 Subcutaneous emphysema is a known, but rare, complication of dental procedu...