Common Treatments To Reduce Lung Hyperinflation

Lung hyperinflation is a condition that occurs when air becomes trapped in the lungs, leading to overinflation. The condition might be caused by less elastic air sacs or air passage blockages, as both of these interfere with air expulsion from the lungs. Lung hyperinflation is commonly seen in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease because of the emphysema symptoms. Other lung problems, like cystic fibrosis and asthma, can lead to the development of lung hyperinflation. While an x-ray is usually used to diagnose the condition, x-ray imaging sometimes shows lung hyperinflation even when none is present. Doctors may use a CT scan to confirm the diagnosis. Treatments vary depending on the severity and the underlying cause.

Oxygen Therapy

Oxygen therapy may be used to help with breathing and management of the condition, especially if the underlying cause is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with COPD sometimes have a low exercise tolerance because of the decreased amount of oxygen being carried to their muscles. Using supplemental oxygen helps increase the amount of oxygen entering the lungs, allowing them to exercise more easily. In fact, supplemental oxygen has been shown to increase the lives of COPD patients.

Lung hyperinflation leads to breathlessness and a reduction in exercise tolerance because part of the lungs isn't receiving fresh air. There have been a few studies specifically examining the effects of supplemental oxygen on hyperinflated lungs. When combined with exercise, patients using oxygen therapy had a larger decrease in hyperinflation than patients who exercised without oxygen.

Lung Volume Reduction Surgery

Lung volume reduction surgery is a surgery used to removed emphysematous and diseased lung tissue. When lung hyperinflation is caused by disease, surgery to remove the tissue may be an option. It's typically recommended for patients who have severe emphysema and one lung more noticeably affected by hyperinflation than the other. When the diseased lung is inflated, it takes up too much room in the chest cavity and presses on the second, functioning lung, decreasing its ability to expand. During lung volume reduction surgery, the diseased and inflated tissue is removed, creating room for the healthier lung to function properly.

There are four identified groups of individuals who may be eligible for this type of surgery. The first group includes those with low exercise capacities and emphysema mostly concentrated in the upper lobe. The second group eligible also has upper lobe emphysema, but their exercise capacity is high. The third group involves diffuse emphysema and low exercise tolerance, while the fourth includes diffuse emphysema and high exercise tolerance.