Lung volume reduction surgery

Medical Services Advisory Committee
Record ID 32002000070
English
Authors' objectives: This report aims to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) as a palliative treatment for end-stage emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Authors' results and conclusions: All published systematic reviews recommend waiting for results from the on-going randomised controlled trials which will better inform claims of clinical effectiveness. A limited amount of preliminary data from these trials has recently been published. Only six-month outcome data is currently available and does not, at this stage, confirm an advantage of LVRS over standard medical therapy with respect to mortality or lung function. LVRS does, however, appear to ease symptoms of chronic emphysema and COPD, and improve quality of life at this early stage. Until more comprehensive trial results are available, it is not possible to determine whether LVRS is clinically effective in the long term.
Authors' recommendations: All published systematic reviews recommend waiting for results from the on-going randomised controlled trials which will better inform claims of clinical effectiveness. A limited amount of preliminary data from these trials has recently been published. Only six-month outcome data is currently available and does not, at this stage, confirm an advantage of LVRS over standard medical therapy with respect to mortality or lung function. LVRS does, however, appear to ease symptoms of chronic emphysema and COPD, and improve quality of life at this early stage. Until more comprehensive trial results are available, it is not possible to determine whether LVRS is clinically effective in the long term.
Authors' methods: Systematic review
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.msac.gov.au/
Year Published: 2001
URL for published report: n/a
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: Australia
MeSH Terms
  • Emphysema
  • Pulmonary Emphysema
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Pneumonectomy
Contact
Organisation Name: Medical Services Advisory Committee
Contact Address: MSAC (MDP 107), GPO Box 9848, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Tel: +61 2 6289 6811; Fax: +61 2 6289 8799.
Contact Name: msac.secretariat@health.gov.au
Contact Email: msac.secretariat@health.gov.au
Copyright: Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.