Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
COPD is progressive Pulmonary disease.
Surgery like
lobectomy, Pulmonary resection are advised and known as lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS).
But it is recommended only after failure of optimal non
surgical treatment.
Optimal nonsurgical treatment includes
smoking cessation,
chest physiotherapy, deep breathing exercises, inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS).
If after doing all these, patient is still symptomatic than one can go for surgical treatment.
Decision about surgery should be taken after in depth discussion with doctor because surgery is not always beneficial to the patient.
So my suggestion is to first give her optimal nonsurgical treatment.
Hope I have solved your query.
Wishing good health to your sister in law. Thanks.