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New Treatment Helps COPD, Emphysema Patients

A new procedure approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is helping certain patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and emphysema to breathe better. The procedure, endobronchial valves (EBV), involves placing valves in a patient’s lungs that can be moved or removed if needed. The results, so far, have been promising.

Some patients who’ve undergone it are moving forward with more breath, better endurance and have even been able to perform light work that they haven’t in years, in some cases. For example, one patient suffering with COPD since 1998 couldn’t catch her breath when moving about her house. Since undergoing the mostly painless procedure she has been able to resume yard work – something she hadn’t been able to do in years.

A good alternative to more invasive surgery options, which often involve removing portions of the patient’s lung and are painful, EBV is currently available to certain emphysema patients, who must pass heart, blood, and breathing tests to qualify.

Additional insight from Dr. Nair: “EBV therapy, as described here, may be on the verge of wider use. It is always good to add a new weapon to treat COPD and once again refute the notion emphysema is not reversible. EBV therapy is lung volume reduction therapy but does not require a full-blown surgery like true LVRS does. This therapy may seem ingenious, but it is not going to be successful in everyone. EBV therapy may be on the verge of wider use. It is always good to add a new weapon to treat COPD and once again refute the notion Emphysema “is not reversible.”

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