Bronchial Thermoplasty

Specialty Programs

Bronchial Lung Volume Reduction: Zephyr Valve Treatment for COPD or Emphysema

For patients with severe COPD or emphysema, a relatively new treatment option known as the Zephyr® Endobronchial Valve System has proved successful in improving lung function, exercise capacity and quality of life.

During this minimally invasive procedure, a doctor uses a bronchoscope (a thin tube with a camera), to place tiny valves in the airways of the lungs. These valves allow healthy portions of the lungs to expand, lifting pressure off the diaphragm to enhance breathing.

Below are some questions and answers about the Zephyr® Valve.

About the Zephyr® Valve System

Who is the Zephyr^® Valve for?

The Zephyr^® Valve is forsevere emphysema patients who consistently feel short of breath despite using COPD medications and/or oxygen.

What are the benefits of Zephyr^® Valves?

Patients report being able to take full breaths immediately after the procedure and within a few days are back to doing everyday tasks with ease.

How do Zephyr^® Valves work?

If you have COPD/emphysema you may struggle to catch your breath while doing everyday tasks. This is because the damaged parts of your lungs have lost their ability to release trapped air and have become overinflated. Zephyr Valves are tiny, one-way valves that allow the trapped air to be exhaled from the lungs and prevent more air from becoming trapped there. This helps you to breathe better and do more.

Patients are able to walk further, perform more activities of daily living, and in some cases get off oxygen.

Benefits include:

• Less shortness of breath
• Better exercise tolerance
• Improvement in walking/climbing stairs
• Less need for prednisone
• Less oxygen requirement
• Improvement in lung function on pulmonary function testing

Is Bronchial Lung Volume Reduction Right for You?

Before a patient can be considered for bronchoscopic lung volume reduction treatment, they are required to take a series of blood and breathing tests. A chest CT scan is also needed to determine where the most significant lung damage is, and finally a cardiac ultrasound to determine if the patient is well enough to undergo the procedure.

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.