Rev Med Liege. 2025 Sep;80(9):567-575.
ABSTRACT
Severe emphysema impairs lung function and quality of life in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Despite optimized medical treatment and rehabilitation, some patients require lung volume reduction interventions (endoscopic or surgical). This study evaluates one-year outcomes of patients managed at the Emphysema Clinic of CHU Liège. This retrospective observational and longitudinal single-center study included 65 patients discussed in multidisciplinary meetings between 2021 and 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: treated (n = 24) with bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) using endobronchial valves (EBV), lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS), or referred for lung transplantation (LTx); and non-treated (n = 41). Clinical and functional parameters were compared at baseline (T0) and after one year (T1). At one year, treated patients showed a significant improvement in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1 : +8.19 %, p = 0.0051), six-minute walk test distance (+54.6 m, p = 0.018), and COPD Assesment Test (CAT score : -5.3 points, p = 0.0017). Advanced interventions for emphysema improve respiratory function, walking distance and quality of life in selected patients based on strict criteria and multidisciplinary consultation.
PMID:40931732
