Findings for patients with heterogeneous emphysema treated with Emphasys valves
FRIDAY, Aug. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with heterogeneous emphysema, bronchoscopic lung volume reduction with endobronchial valves (BLVR) is associated with similar survival benefit as lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS), according to a research letter published in the Aug. 15 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Justin Garner, M.B.B.S., from the Royal Brompton and Harefield National Health Service Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom, and colleagues reviewed the long-term outcome of BLVR in 19 patients with heterogeneous emphysema treated with Emphasys valves placed to achieve occlusion of a single target lobe. Survival data were compared for those with and without (five and 14, respectively) evidence of atelectasis on a thoracic computed tomography scan performed at one month after the procedure. Patients underwent BLVR between July 2002 and February 2004 and were followed for survival until November 2015.
The researchers found that 40 and 14 percent of patients in the atelectasis and nonatelectasis groups, respectively, were still alive at the end of follow-up.
“These data suggest that successful BLVR may be associated with a substantial, persisting survival benefit similar to that observed after LVRS,” the authors write. “Direct comparison studies of adequate duration are now needed to compare outcomes between these two treatment modalities so that clinicians and patients can make informed choices about whether to proceed with a bronchoscopic or surgical approach.”
The valves used in the original procedures were provided by Emphasys Medical Inc.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Copyright © 2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
