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Endobronchial Lung Volume Reduction - A Novel Treatment Option For Patients With Severe COPD Emphysema

What Is Emphysema?

Emphysema is a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that is characterized by destruction of lung tissue and formation of blebs, which results in impaired gas exchange and abnormal increase in the amount of lung volume trapped in the chest. Also known as hyperinflation, this excessive degree of air build up places respiratory muscles at a mechanical disadvantage leading to progressive shortness of breath. Lung volume reduction procedure aims to stop the vicious cycle of breathlessness caused by hyperinflation.

What Is Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction?

Bronchoscopic or endobronchial volume reduction is a novel FDA approved procedure for selected patients with severe emphysema and hyperinflation. Procedure involves insertion of one way valves into most disease affected lobe, thereby allowing air to exit but not re-enter. This leads to volume reduction in the treated portion of the lung, improvement in symptoms and an increase in pulmonary function. Patients are able to walk further, perform more activities of daily living and some are even able to get off oxygen.

• Less shortness of breath
• Better exercise tolerance
• Improvement in walking/climbing stairs and carrying out other activities of daily living
• Less need for Prednisone
• Less oxygen requirement
• Improvement in lung function on pulmonary function testing

Unlike surgical lung volume reduction, endobronchial valves are performed exclusively through a bronchoscope (flexible fiberoptic camera) without any need for surgical intervention, stitches or scars. This offers additional treatment options for patients with compromised respiratory status who are unfit for surgery. Patients who are candidates for lung volume reduction but cannot undergo endobronchial valve placement are offered surgical lung volume reduction procedure using minimally invasive surgical techniques.

How To Find Center That Performs This Procedure

Visit company website for a list of medical centers across United States that perform this procedure

https://pulmonx.com/zephyr-centers/

Proof of Efficacy

In several large clinical trials, patients treated with endobronchial lung volume reduction enjoyed improvement in lung function and quality of life compared with control group.1

1.https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.201803-0590OC