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Had Undergone Lung Bullectomy Surgery. Precautions To Avoid This In Future?

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Posted on Tue, 21 May 2013
Question: My Brother in law had undergone lung bullectomy surgery in 2009 , i want to know whether he is going to suffer from this ailment again in furture or else once surgery done it's permanently cured. What are the reasons which enabled this in the body and what precautions can be taken to avoid this in future.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra (2 hours later)
Hi,

Thanks for posting the query on XXXXXXX After going through your query, I would like to comment the following:

1. The patient had undergone bullectomy in 2009.

2. You seem to be suffering from COPD with right lung bullae secondary to emphysematous lung disease.

3. The bullae were due to hperinflation of lungs or emphysematous changes which are normally seen in CXOPD(Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) which in turn had arised due to his previous moking history, smoking being a strong risk factor for COPD.

3. His previous episode of pneumothorax was also probably due to rupture of one of the previous bullae, again due to COPD.

4. Measures for future:
a. Keep the patient under regular follow up of a Pulmonologist.
b. To continue inhaled therapy and medications as per pulmonary functions.
c. To vaccinate with flu and pneumococcal vaccine.
d. To prevent any exertional activity.
e. To abstain from smoking in future.
f. To consult doctor at the earliest whenever chest symptoms develop in future.

I hope I have answered your query. I will be glad to answer follow up queries if any.
Please accept my answer if you have no follow up queries.

Regards

Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra
MBBS MD DNB
Consultant Pulmonologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra (13 hours later)
I would like to know whether this is something which may repeat itself in future too..
doctor
Answered by Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra (3 hours later)
Hi,
Thanks for the follow up.

Yes, ocurrence of new bullae are known after bullectomy in COPD patients.

I hope I have answered your query. I will be glad to answer follow up queries if any.
Please accept my answer if you have no follow up queries.

Regards

Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra
MBBS MD DNB
Consultant Pulmonologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra (1 hour later)
What is the time span within which this may repeat itself.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra (1 hour later)
Hi,
Thanks for the follow up.

The recurrence rates are about 3% and 5% at the end of 2 years and 10 years in thoracotomy bullectomy.

I hope I have answered your query. I will be glad to answer follow up queries if any.
Please accept my answer if you have no follow up queries.

Regards

Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra
MBBS MD DNB
Consultant Pulmonologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra

Pulmonologist

Practicing since :2003

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Had Undergone Lung Bullectomy Surgery. Precautions To Avoid This In Future?

Hi,

Thanks for posting the query on XXXXXXX After going through your query, I would like to comment the following:

1. The patient had undergone bullectomy in 2009.

2. You seem to be suffering from COPD with right lung bullae secondary to emphysematous lung disease.

3. The bullae were due to hperinflation of lungs or emphysematous changes which are normally seen in CXOPD(Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) which in turn had arised due to his previous moking history, smoking being a strong risk factor for COPD.

3. His previous episode of pneumothorax was also probably due to rupture of one of the previous bullae, again due to COPD.

4. Measures for future:
a. Keep the patient under regular follow up of a Pulmonologist.
b. To continue inhaled therapy and medications as per pulmonary functions.
c. To vaccinate with flu and pneumococcal vaccine.
d. To prevent any exertional activity.
e. To abstain from smoking in future.
f. To consult doctor at the earliest whenever chest symptoms develop in future.

I hope I have answered your query. I will be glad to answer follow up queries if any.
Please accept my answer if you have no follow up queries.

Regards

Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra
MBBS MD DNB
Consultant Pulmonologist