Question 1

what is the life expectancy of someone with copd whose lungs are too damaged for lung reduction surgery?

Accepted Answer

Difficult: This is a very hard question to answer; survival predictions in COPD have been difficult to confirm in study.  One of the most widely used is called the "bode" index which is based on body mass, fev1, six minute walk (a measure of exercise distance) and a dyspnea/shortness of breath score called mrc.  There are calculators online to help quickly do this assessment.

Question 2

how effective is lung reduction surgery for treating copd?

Accepted Answer

LVRS: Lung volume reduction surgery or lvrs is for patients with chronic emphysema.  Emphysema is loss of the elasticity of the lung tissue, with ballooning or air trapping.  Lvrs removes the bad lung tissue, and allows the good lung tissue to take over.  Lvrs can be life saving in patients with poor function and emphysema in the upper part of the lung.  Lvrs is now performed minimally invasively.

Question 3

are there any natural therapies for copd of the lungs?

Accepted Answer

Therapy/rehab: The problem with COPD and recurrent lung infections is that the lungs are damaged and abnormal.  The best thing to do naturally is to exercise them and improve breathing techniques.  Some people go to something like yoga breathing but there are excellent formal pulmonary rehabilitation treatments (typically 8-12 weeks long) that can be extremely helpful.  Cough techniques to clear secretions ...

Question 4

how do you donate a lung to someone with copd?

Accepted Answer

Depends: While donating a kidney is an acceptable practice, doing the same with a lung is much more complex and dangerous. Contact specific lung transplant centers to see what their policy is regarding this.

Question 5

is it possible for copd to occur in only one lung?

Accepted Answer

Possible but...: Usually it happens in both lungs because the smoke enters both lungs. That said, it can affect one lung worse than the other.

Question 6

can you tell me more about donating a lung to someone with copd?

Accepted Answer

Admirable, but...: That is admirable, truly. But, donating a lung is a really big deal, and it can have a tremendous impact on your breathing and quality of life. 

That's why most transplant centers will not do a living lung donor. Kidneys and liver is possible, but usually not lung.

Question 7

donating a lung to someone who suffers with copd. what is the process involved?

Accepted Answer

Very involved : It is a very big deal to donate a lung to someone. In fact, i don't think i've ever heard of a living lung donor. It's a big surgery, and you could lose more than half your lung function. Usually, lungs come from deceased donors.

Question 8

how often should i have my lung capacity checked after being diagnosed with copd?

Accepted Answer

Once a year: Measuring FEV1 by spirometry at least once a year to identify patients who are declining quickly.

Question 9

if you have copd, will the disease carry over into the lungs transplants you receive?

Accepted Answer

No: COPD is not a disease that returns after transplant; some diseases like sarcoidosis can come back after a lung is transplanted and cause the new lungs to work poorly.

Question 10

i'm an rt. my pt. has 50% lung function and severe copd. what are the recommended medications?

Accepted Answer

ICS, bronchodilators: For maintenance medications, the goal is symptom relief. This can be done with bronchodilators ie short or long acting beta agonists, ( albuterol, formoterol) and anti cholinergics, there is some atrovent (ipratropium) may increase the risk of cardiac events, so long acting anti- ach drugs like spirva are better. Inhaled steroids may be lower the risk of COPD exacerbation's as well. ( torch study) and are used.

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Doctor answers about:

Expectancy copd lungs lung reduction

A member asked:

What is the life expectancy of someone with copd whose lungs are too damaged for lung reduction surgery?

A member asked:

How effective is lung reduction surgery for treating copd?

A member asked:

Are there any natural therapies for copd of the lungs?

A member asked:

How do you donate a lung to someone with copd?

A member asked:

Is it possible for copd to occur in only one lung?

A member asked:

Can you tell me more about donating a lung to someone with copd?

A member asked:

Donating a lung to someone who suffers with copd. what is the process involved?

A member asked:

How often should i have my lung capacity checked after being diagnosed with copd?

A member asked:

If you have copd, will the disease carry over into the lungs transplants you receive?

A member asked:

I'm an rt. my pt. has 50% lung function and severe copd. what are the recommended medications?

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