Surgery

Lung surgery is rarely used to treat COPD. Surgery is never the first treatment choice and is only considered for people who have severe COPD that has not improved with other treatment.

Surgery choices

• Lung volume reduction surgery: Removes part of one or both lungs, making room for the rest of the lung to work better. It is used only for some types of severe emphysema.⁵
• Lung transplant: Replaces a sick lung with a healthy lung from a person who has just died.
• Bullectomy: Removes the part of the lung that has been damaged by the formation of large, air-filled sacs called bullae. This surgery is rarely done.

Other Treatment

Other treatment for COPD includes:

• Pulmonary rehabilitation. This treatment involves a team of health professionals who treat many problems of COPD. It typically combines exercise, breathing therapy, emotional support, advice for eating well, and education. This treatment is required for people who are having lung volume reduction surgery or a lung transplant.
• Oxygen treatment. This treatment involves breathing extra oxygen through a face mask or through a tube inserted just inside your nose. It may ease shortness of breath. And it can help people with very bad COPD and low oxygen levels live longer. For more information, see:

  Oxygen Therapy: Using Oxygen at Home

• Ventilation devices. These are machines that help you breathe better or breathe for you. They are used most often in the hospital during COPD flare-ups.
• Alpha-1 antitrypsin injections (such as Aralast, Prolastin, or Zemaira). These medicines can help people who have alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.