Our initial experiences with endobronchial valve: a new approach for lung volume reduction

Sedat Altın,

doi:10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2013.5168

Sedat Altın¹, Sinem Nedime Sökücü¹, Levent Dalar², Ahmet Levent Karasulu²

¹Yedikule Göğüs Hastalıkları ve Göğüs Cerrahisi Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Göğüs Cerrahisi Kliniği, İstanbul, Türkiye
²Yedikule Göğüs Hastalıkları ve Göğüs Cerrahisi Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Girişimsel Pulmonoloji, İstanbul, Türkiye

DOI : 10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2013.5168

An endobronchial valve can improve lung function measures and quality of life for patients with emphysema. The valve is designed to block inspiratory airflow in affected regions of an emphysematous lung, thereby conferring the benefits of lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) without the risks of major surgery in selected patients. Also, it gives an option to improve lung functions in patients who are not candidates for LVRS or before transplantation. In this article, we discussed our experience on the use of endobronchial valves on four patients with heterogenous emphysema with persistent symptoms and functional restrictions, despite medical treatment and were frequently hospitalized due to dyspnea.

Keywords : Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; emphysema; endobronchial valve; lung volume reduction surgery

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