The inability to breathe can be terrifying. That’s why Mercy Health is the first health system in the region to offer a new treatment option for patients with emphysema, which is a severe form of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD).
Mercy Health is now offering Zephyr Endobronchial Valves, which involves a minimally invasive procedure to place valves into the damaged areas of the lung. The treatment, which will be offered at Mercy Health – St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, is groundbreaking because it is the first FDA approved procedure that can help COPD patients have an improved quality of life without the risks associated with major surgery.
“We are very excited to have this new treatment option because our severe COPD and emphysema patients suffer with very poor quality of life and struggle with each breath,” said Dr. Niraj Niraula, Mercy Health pulmonologist. “Until recently, the only other options for these patients were highly invasive treatments such as lunch transplantation or surgery., This minimally invasive procedure has the potential to be a life changer for patients who remain symptomatic despite taking their medications as directed.”
According to the American Lung Association, more than 15 million Americans suffer from COPD and 3.5 million of those patients have emphysema. Despite using COPD medications, over 1 million emphysema patients suffer symptoms of hyperinflation, in which air becomes trapped in the parts of the lung damaged by the disease. This trapped air causes the damaged areas of the lungs to get larger, which puts pressure on the healthy parts of the lungs and diaphragm, leading to extreme shortness of breath.
With severe shortness of breath and inefficient breathing, patients work very hard just to breathe, and this makes normal activities like walking, eating or even bathing difficult. There are few treatment options for most patients with emphysema and there is no cure. Until now, the only other option for these patients were highly invasive treatments such as lung volume reduction surgery or lung transplantation.
Patients who have undergone the procedure report significant improvements in their quality of life.
Treatment with the Zephyr Endobronchial Valves is minimally invasive, shortening recovery time and lessening the risk of infection. The one-time treatment is performed via bronchoscopy, which requires no cutting or incisions, and can usually be completed in under an hour. During the procedure, an average of four tiny valves in the patient’s airways. The valves block off the diseased parts of the lungs where air gets trapped. This allows the healthier parts of the lungs to expand and take in more air, which helps patients breathe easier.
Candidates for this new procedure are individuals who have known or suspected emphysema and hyperinflation, breathlessness despite taking medications, and a relatively high degree of airway obstruction.