Abstract: Objective　To compare the clinical efficacy of chest drainage microtubules and lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) in the treatment of emphysema complicated with giant bullae. Methods　A total of 88 patients with emphysema complicated with giant bullae were selected as subjects. Patients were divided into the microtubule group (49 cases) and the LVRS group (39 cases) according to the treatment method. The differences in operative time, blood loss and postoperative hospital stay were compared between the two groups. Pulmonary function [percentage of forced end-expiratory volume in 1 second to estimated value (FEV1% estimated value) and FEV1 to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC)], pulmonary artery pressure, arterial partial pressure of oxygen [p(O2)], partial pressure of carbon dioxide [p(CO2)] and oxygen saturation before surgery were recorded before surgery, 2 weeks and 2 months after surgery. Postoperative dyspnea index and quality of life score were evaluated. Results　Compared with the LVRS group, there were shorter operation time, less blood loss and shorter postoperative hospital stay in the microtubule group (P＜0.01). Compared with before surgery, FEV1% predicted value, FEV1/FVC, p(O2) and blood oxygen saturation were increased 2 months after surgery in the two groups, while pulmonary artery pressure and p(CO2) were decreased, and the above indexes were significantly improved in the microtubule group compared with those of the LVRS group (P＜0.05). There was no significant difference in postoperative arterial oxygen saturation between the two groups (P＞0.05). Two months after operation, the proportion of dyspnea index Ⅲ to Ⅳ was lower in the microtubule group than that in the LVRS group, and the quality of life score was higher in the microtubule group (P＜0.05). Conclusion　For patients with emphysema complicated with giant bullae, thoracic drainage microtubules have less trauma and faster recovery of lung function and blood oxygen after operation, which is a good clinical treatment.

Key words: pulmonary emphysema, pneumonectomy, thoracic drainage microtube, giant pulmonary bullae, pulmonary function, quality of life