The Efficacy of Lung Volume Reduction Coil Treatment in Patients with Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Type II Respiratory Failure

PURPOSE: Emphysema is a progressive and irreversible disease, proceeding with the decrease in elastic recoil which is connected to tissue damage caused by chronic inflammation. Lung volume reduction coil (LVRC) method in patients with an advanced level of emphysema and irresponsive to medical treatment is shown to provide increase in lung volumes and exercise capacity, decrease in dyspnea, and increase in quality of life. The purpose of this study is to reveal that LVRC treatment is also efficient in severe COPD patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eleven cases with severe COPD and emphysema were included in the study. LVRC treatment method was applied in upper lobes of both lungs in patients with severe COPD (FEV1 < %45) and Type-2 respiratory insufficiency (PCO(2) 55–80 mmHg) who were having medical treatment and CPAP treatment. The patients were followed up for a period of twelve months using arterial blood gas analysis. RESULTS: Beginning with the first month of the LVRC treatment, PCO(2) levels were found to be significantly decreased in all patients using arterial blood gas analysis. CONCLUSION: LVRC method can provide physiological and functional recovery and progress in quality of life in severe COPD cases. It is demonstrated that LVRC treatment caused significant decreases in carbon dioxide levels as well as causing improvement in life quality and respiratory function tests in the patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure.