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Surgery can be used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but it's typically used only if other treatments and therapies have stopped working.
Most cases of COPD are caused by cigarette smoking, and in those instances the most important step in treating COPD is to stop smoking. COPD is also treated with medications, oxygen therapy, and lifestyle modifications such as regular exercise. If surgery is necessary, there are generally three types of surgery that can be performed, including a lung transplant.
To find out more about lung transplants and other surgeries to treat COPD, check out the following information from our
A–Z Health Library.
Lung surgery is rarely used to treat
COPD.Surgery is never the first treatment choice and
is only considered for people who have severe COPD that has not improved with
other treatment.
Surgery Choices
Lung volume reduction surgery | Removes part of one or both lungs, making
room for the rest of the lung to work better. It is used only for severe
emphysema.7 |
Lung transplant | Replaces a sick lung with a healthy lung
from a person who has just died. |
Bullectomy | Removes the part of the lung that has been
damaged by the formation of large, air-filled sacs called bullae. This surgery
is rarely done. |
Last Updated: May 8, 2008 
