Azuma Y, Sano A, Sakai T, et al. - Researchers investigated how perioperative combination therapy, employing a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) and a long-acting β ₂ agonist (LABA), could impact preoperative lung function, postoperative morbidity and mortality, as well as long-term outcome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. A retrospective review of 130 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed COPD who had surgery for lung cancer, was performed to determine if LAMA/LABA might represent an optimal regimen for patients with COPD receiving surgery for lung cancer. Significant improvement in pulmonary function prior to surgery was evident in patients who underwent preoperative LAMA/LABA therapy. Among patients experiencing moderate to severe airflow limitation (n = 61), significantly longer overall survival and disease-free survival were observed in those who were treated with LAMA/LABA therapy vs the LAMA and rehabilitation-only groups. Lower recurrence rates were reported in relation to perioperative LAMA/LABA therapy. Overall, this treatment combination was inferred as the optimal regimen for patients suffering from lung cancer and COPD.