All patients have 4 consecutive sessions the 1 st week, and then have 2 sessions a week here at UCSD for 8 more weeks. Follow up testing at UCSD is done after the completion of rehab. This is the randomization phase, and occurs at about 12- 15 weeks after you start the screening process. Patients have equal chances of being assigned to either maximal medical treatment or lung volume reduction surgery. For either treatment, patients return to rehab immediately for 2 consecutive visits, then once a week for 8 weeks.
Patients then continue their exercise program at home.
The first scheduled follow-up at UCSD is 6 months after randomization. A rehab satellite center is a center that has been certified by the study to assist us in the trial. They conduct portions of the pulmonary rehabilitation component of the study. At least the first four rehab sessions must be completed here at UCSD, but the remaining visits can be completed at the satellite.