Patient's question:
Recently I have been coughing badly. I went to the hospital for a thorough examination, and the doctor said there might be a bulla in my lungs. I haven't heard of bullae before. The doctor mentioned that this condition might require surgery. I would like to ask what are the indications for surgery for bullae?Doctor's answer:
Pulmonary bullae are primarily formed by the overexpansion of alveoli and are, to some extent, associated with diseases such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and bronchiectasis. It is necessary to determine whether treatment is required based on the size of the bullae. If the bullae are small, they can be temporarily monitored. However, if the bullae are significantly enlarged, accounting for less than one-third of the normal lung tissue, timely surgery is needed, as this carries risks such as rupture, tearing, and infection.For patients with emphysema who experience breathing difficulties, the surgical removal of bullae is performed. The goal of the surgery is to restore the elastic recoil of the remaining lung tissue, reduce airway and blood flow resistance, and enhance the expansion of the compressed lung to increase tidal volume. Additionally, the postoperative increase in lung volume can help the diaphragm fully recover its relatively normal physiological curvature, stabilizing respiratory activity.