A 42-year-old patient with emphysema was hospitalized in the intensive care unit for an episode of acute respiratory failure. The patient became dependent on invasive mechanical ventilation and surgical lung volume reduction was performed. The indication of lung volume reduction in this pathological situation but was followed by rapid weaning 48 hours postoperatively. The patient was discharged without ventilatory assistance and has not required further ventilatory assistance after more than 2 years follow-up.