New Treatment Option for Patients with Severe COPD-Emphysema

Holy Cross Health is one of the first in South Florida to offer a new lung valve treatment for patients with severe COPD/emphysema.

Recently approved by the FDA under its “Breakthrough Devices” status, the Zephyr® Endobronchial Valve treatment is a major advancement because it is the first minimally invasive procedure to help emphysema sufferers breathe easier without major surgery. Through a simple bronchoscopy, the valves improve a patient’s quality of life by allowing them to breathe easier, reducing the shortness of breath, while promoting a more active and energetic lifestyle.

“We are very excited to have this new treatment option because emphysema patients are often in poor physical condition, struggling with each breath despite medication therapy. Before the Zephyr Valves, the only options for relief were highly invasive treatments including lung surgeries,” said Sam G. Kosseifi, M.D., DABSM, lead pulmonologist at Holy Cross Health. “Being able to offer this minimally invasive procedure has the potential to improve the quality of life for many emphysema sufferers in Florida and beyond.”

The one-time procedure is done during a simple bronchoscopy that requires no cutting or incisions. During the procedure, an average of four tiny valves are placed in the airways to block off the diseased parts of the lungs where air gets trapped. Keeping air from getting trapped in the diseased parts of the lung allows the healthier parts of the lungs to expand and take in more air. This results in patients being able to breathe easier and have less shortness of breath.

Emphysema is a progressive and life-threatening lung disease and a severe form of COPD (chronic pulmonary obstructive disease). There is no cure, and patients live with severe shortness of breath that keeps them from doing simple daily activities such as walking or taking a shower without pausing to catch their breath or resting. This extreme shortness of breath is caused when air becomes trapped in parts of the lung that are 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. During this short procedure, on average a physician places four tiny valves in the airways to block off the damage areas of the lungs so air no longer gets trapped there. This allows the healthier parts of the lungs to expand and relieves the pressure on the diaphragm, which decreases shortness of breath and makes breathing easier.