Endobronchial Valve Procedure
At Augusta University Health, our primary missions are: patient care, education and research. This means we bring world-class clinicians, pioneering research, and the latest technologies and breakthroughs directly to you, right here in Augusta, Georgia.
Endobronchial Valve Procedure
At Augusta University Health, our primary missions are: patient care, education and research. This means we bring world-class clinicians, pioneering research, and the latest technologies and breakthroughs directly to you, right here in Augusta, Georgia.
About the Zephyr® Valve
What is it?
The first FDA-approved, minimally-invasive device available in the U.S. for treating patients with severe emphysema.
Who is it for?
Severe emphysema patients who consistently feel short of breath despite using COPD medications and/or oxygen.
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. In clinical studies patients treated with Zephyr® Valves have been shown to:
- Breathe easier
- Be more active and energetic
- Be less short of breath
- Enjoy a significantly improved quality of life compared to untreated patients.
One-Time Procedure
The one-time procedure is done during a bronchoscopy that requires no cutting or incisions. During the procedure, on average four tiny valves are placed in the airways to block off the diseased parts of the lungs. The valves reduce hyperinflation, preventing air from being trapped in the diseased area of the lung and allowing healthier parts of the lung to take in more air. This results in patients being able to breathe easier. Patients treated have reported immediate relief.
Patient Expectations
A typical Zephyr® valve procedure looks like this:
- The doctor will give you medicine to make you sleepy.
- A small tube with a camera, called a bronchoscope, will be inserted into your lungs through your nose or mouth.
- During the procedure on average the doctor will place four Zephyr Valves in the airways.
- You will stay in the hospital for approximately 3 nights for observation.
After the procedure, you will continue to use the medicines that your doctor has prescribed for your condition.