Is Fissure Integrity Affected by the Severity of Emphysema and Does This Direct the Choice of Lung Volume Reduction Procedure?

Abstract

Background: Endobronchial lung volume reduction (EBLVR) is dependent on near complete fissure integrity (FI). Some assume that fissure integrity declines with the progression and severity of underlying emphysema, leading to the misconception that some patients may become 'too bad' for EBLVR and proceed to premature surgical intervention.