Perfusion recovery after lung volume reduction surgery

A patient with emphysema was evaluated before and after lung volume reduction surgery by pulmonary perfusion and ventilation imaging. Preoperative imaging showed marked nonhomogeneity of perfusion throughout both lung fields, with more segmental defects in the right lower field involving ventilation abnormalities. After resection of the right lower lobe, pulmonary imaging showed an improvement of matched perfusion and ventilation in the right lower field. This case illustrates perfusion and ventilation recovery after lung volume reduction surgery.