Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) has become an accepted therapeutic option to relieve symptoms of selected patients with severe emphysema. In a majority of these, it causes objective as well as subjective functional improvement. A proper understanding of the physiological determinants underlying these beneficial effects appears very important in order to better select patients for the procedure which is currently largely done on an empirical basis. Contents of this doctoral dissertation include: Physiological basis of improvement after lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema; Pathophysiology of elastase-induced-emphysema in hamsters, general methodology of experimental studies, Lung volume reduction surgery does not improve diaphragmatic contractile properties or atrophy in hamsters with elastase-induced emphysema; Diaphragm molecular biology in emphysematous and LVRS-treated hamsters, Effects of lung volume reduction surgery on respiratory mechanics in hamsters with elastase-induced emphysema; Effect of elastase-induced emphysema and lung volume reduction surgery on the resting breathing pattern in hamsters; General Conclusions.
