Abstract
Medical and non-pharmacological treatments continue to be the initial managements for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These managements have evolved over time, but given the high mortality and morbidity of COPD, much work still needs to be done. To date, none of the existing pharmacological therapies for COPD has been shown conclusively to modify the long-term decline in lung function. Several trials have been completed to evaluate options that can improve patient symptoms and quality of life. Optimal management for patients with COPD requires both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic managements. To date, the only treatments that can modify the course of COPD and potentially cure the disease are surgical treatments. Some of the surgical managements we discussed in this review include Lung Volume Reduction Surgeries (LVRS), Bronchoscopic Volume Reduction Surgery (BVRS), bullectomy and lung transplants. The indications for these surgical managements have also been discussed in this article. Patients for surgical managements have to be appropriately selected to avoid some of the major adverse events that can occur because of some of the treatment modality.