Whatever the technique used may be, the anesthesia for emphysematous patients is always a delicate one. With more and more anesthesiologists dedicated to the use of anesthesia for pulmonary surgery and who are applying the principles described in this article, many emphysematous patients, sometimes severely ill who otherwise would not be a candidate for usual anesthesia, may now profit from surgery for emphysema owing to the use of safe and efficacious anesthesia.