Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction with valves: What should the internist know?

Current status of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction with endobronchial valves.

INTRODUCTION Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Emphysema is a component of COPD characterised by hyperinflation resulting in reduced gas exchange and interference with breathing mechanics. Endoscopic lung volume reduction using one-way valves to induce atelectasis of the hyperinflated lobe has been developed and studied in clinic...

Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction

Surgical lung volume reduction can improve exercise performance and forced expiratory volume in one second in patients with emphysema. However, the procedure is associated with a 5% mortality rate and a nonresponse rate of ,25%. Accordingly, interest has focused on alternative ways of reducing lung volume. Two principle approaches are used: collapse of the diseased area using blockers placed en...

Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction

The application of lung volume reduction surgery in clinical practice is limited by high postoperative morbidity and stringent selection criteria. This has been the impetus for the development of bronchoscopic approaches to lung volume reduction. A range of different techniques such as endobronchial blockers, airway bypass, endobronchial valves, thermal vapor ablation, biological sealants, and ...

Efficacy of Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction by Endobronchial Valves in Patients with Heterogeneous Emphysema: Report on the First Asian Cases

Although many patients with severe emphysema have benefited from bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) worldwide, experience of BLVR in Asian emphysema patients is scarce. Between July 2012 and March 2013, seven patients with advanced heterogeneous emphysema underwent BLVR in the Asan Medical Center. They had severe dyspnea and poor lung function (Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea ...

Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction: a window for the future?