Breathe Easier: Lung surgery aids some emphysema patients

Surgery in which doctors remove diseased portions of the lungs clearly helps some people with emphysema, a new study finds. But the likelihood of benefit depends on the location of the damaged tissues and the patient’s health going into surgery.

The findings should guide physicians in predicting which patients will get the most out of such operations, says Steven Piantadosi of Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore.