Lasers, staples, bovine pericardium, talc, glue and...suction cylinders? Tools of the trade to avoid air leaks in lung volume reduction surgery.

Points out that most reported trials agree in the concept that well-selected patients with severe emphysema derive benefit from lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS), but there has been debate regarding the optimal surgical approach. Surgical LVRS by sternotomy or thoracoscopy using stapling devices for the resection of diseased portions; Laser therapy; Bilateral LVRS preferred to sequential unilateral LVRS; Results from the National Emphysema Treatment Trial.