El Camino Hospital first to offer treatment in Golden State
El Camino Hospital in Mountain View announced this week it is the first hospital in California to have successfully performed the newly FDA-approved lung valve treatment for patients with severe COPD/emphysema.
The Zephyr® Endobronchial Valve treatment represents a major advancement as a minimally invasive procedure, helping emphysema sufferers breathe easier without major surgery.
More than 15 million Americans suffer from COPD, according to the American Lung Association. Over 1 million emphysema patients continue to suffer symptoms of hyperinflation, in which air becomes trapped in the lungs, causing severe shortness of breath, despite using medications.
“As one of the first hospitals to offer bronchoscopic lung volume reduction, we are excited to be at the forefront of minimally-invasive lung care,” says Dr. Ganesh Krishna, “This procedure has the potential to improve breathing, lung function and quality of life for so many people living with emphysema and COPD in California and the Western United States.”
For years, the only treatment options for people with severe COPD were highly invasive treatments such as lung volume reduction surgery or lung transplantation. This one-time procedure is done during a simple bronchoscopy that requires no cutting or incisions. During the procedure, 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.
SOURCE: Business Wire
