Alternative Therapies (LVRS and Transplantation)

(these are excerpts from the book Positive Options For Living With COPD by Teri Allen)

Lung Volume Reduction Surgery (LVRS)

Lung Volume Reduction Surgery (LVRS) is a procedure that removes diseased lung tissue so that the healthy tissue that remains can work more efficiently. Up to 30 percent of the lungs may be removed.
LVRS does not cure COPD, but it can improve quality of life by decreasing shortness of breath, increasing lung function, and improving energy and mobility. The best candidates for this surgery are those with severe emphysema in the upper lung lobes who are otherwise healthy and have made little or o progress in a formal pulmonary rehabilitation program.
As with all surgical procedures, there are risks involved, including scarring, serious infection, and death. Medicare will typically cover this procedure if you have:
*emphysema
*quit smoking at least 4 months prior to the procedure
*no history of coronary artery bypass graft surgery or some other heart
complications.
Talk with your health-care provider if you are interested in more information about lung volume reduction surgery.

Lung Transplantation

The transplant of one or both lungs is typically of last resort reserved for those with severe to end-stage lung disease. Although the procedure might not lengthen your life, it can make your remaining years more enjoyable by improving lung function and your ability to exercise, and decreasing your shortness of breath.

Waiting for a donor can be a lengthy process but living donors have been used. This procedure should not be considered lightly because it has serious risks, such as rejection, death and infection. Those who receive a lung transplant must take immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their lives, thereby increasing their risk of infection.

To be considered for lung transplantation, you must:
*be less than sixty-five years of age and have end-stage lung disease.
*be ambulatory
*be at an ideal body weight
*have hypercapnia with associated pulmonary hypertension
*have an FEV1 <20 percent of normally predicted


Many insurance companies will cover lung transplantation on a case-by-case basis. Talk with your health-care provider if you meet the above criteria and would like more information.