Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BVLR) is as effective as lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) in patients with emphysema, with both techniques resulting in similar improvements in lung function, according to research published at ERS 2022.
Findings of the study, which compared these procedures for the first time, will be important for clinicians and patients in guiding decision-making around which treatment option to choose when both are suitable, Sarah Buttery, a research physiotherapist and PhD candidate at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London (UK), told delegates.
“Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction is a less invasive option and is thought to be ‘less risky’ but, until now, there has not been substantial research to support this”, she noted.
In the CELEB trial, the UK research team randomised 88 patients (average age of 64 years) typically representative an LVR cohort to receive either LVRS (n = 4) or BLVR (n = 47), with subsequent follow-up for one year.
Patients’ response to treatment was measured using the iBODE score, which encompasses BMI, airflow obstruction, dyspnoea and exercise capacity.