Bullectomy is a surgical procedure in which dilated air-spaces or bullae in

lung parenchyma Parenchyma () is the bulk of functional substance in an animal organ or structure such as a tumour. In zoology it is the name for the tissue that fills the interior of flatworms. Etymology The term ''parenchyma'' is New Latin from the word π ...

are removed. Common causes of dilated air-spaces include

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a type of progressive lung disease characterized by long-term respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. The main symptoms include shortness of breath and a cough, which may or may not produce ...

and emphysema. Patients with giant bullae filling half the thoracic volume and compressing relatively normal adjacent parenchyma are recommended for bullectomy. It is also indicated in severe

dyspnea Shortness of breath (SOB), also medically known as dyspnea (in AmE) or dyspnoea (in BrE), is an uncomfortable feeling of not being able to breathe well enough. The American Thoracic Society defines it as "a subjective experience of breathing di ...

, repeated

respiratory infections Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are infectious diseases involving the respiratory tract. An infection of this type usually is further classified as an upper respiratory tract infection (URI or URTI) or a lower respiratory tract infection (LRI ...

and

spontaneous pneumothorax A pneumothorax is an abnormal collection of air in the pleural space between the lung and the chest wall. Symptoms typically include sudden onset of sharp, one-sided chest pain and shortness of breath. In a minority of cases, a one-way valve i ...

. The size of dilated air-spaces or bullae volume is the most important factor in relation to ventilator capacity post-bullectomy. In cases where the size of bullae are enlarged, bullectomy is indicated if the percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1%) is greater than 40% and the regional ventilation over volume dynamic(V/V Dynamic) is greater than 0.5.

References

{{Thoracic surgery Pulmonary thoracic surgery