The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of a new treatment algorithm for bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) in patients with emphysema based on the information of emphysema heterogeneity, destruction score, and fissure analysis.
Emphysema is a progressive pulmonary disease characterized by abnormal and permanent enlargement of air spaces distal to terminal bronchioles accompanied by the destruction of pulmonary parenchyma. Treatment includes inhaled bronchodilator therapy, rehabilitation and/or oxygen treatment. In addition to the above, patients with severe emphysema may benefit from surgical lung volume reduction and/or lung transplantation. The rationale for lung volume reduction surgery is that reducing lung size would restore elastic recoil of the lung and improve chest wall and diaphragm mechanics. It has previously been shown that particularly patients with heterogeneous emphysema seem to benefit most from surgical lung volume reduction. Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) has recently been introduced as a less invasive potential alternative to surgical lung volume reduction. BLVR attempts to achieve the effects of surgery, by placing bronchial prostheses using a fibreoptic bronchoscope to selectively occlude the airways supplying the most affected hyperinflated regions of the emphysematous lung, while permitting exhaled gas to escape. This attempts to achieve segmental or lobar volume reduction, simulating the effects of surgical LVR. Recent trials of BLVR using endobronchial one-way valves demonstrated significant improvements in lung function parameters, exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with end-stage emphysema. The treatment algorithm for valve implantations to achieve BLVR, however, varied considerably in these reports as well as clinical and functional response rates. Subset analysis of these studies revealed that particularly, but not exclusively, patients with radiological signs of lung volume reduction treated unilaterally showed significant clinical improvements, whereas most patients without signs of lung volume reduction did not experience these benefits. The present study investigates the response to BLVR based on a new treatment algorithm including lung function criteria and computed tomography of the thorax.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
20
Procedure under general anesthesia.
Otto Wagner Hospital
Vienna, Vienna, Austria
RECRUITINGUniversity Antwerp
Antwerp, Belgium
RECRUITINGUniversity Brussels
Brussels, Belgium
RECRUITINGMean % change in lung function (FEV1)
Time frame: 90 days post index bronchoscopic lung volume reduction
Mean % change in target lobe Residual Volume and Total Lung Capacity. Mean absolute change in dyspnea (mMRC-Score), Quality of life using St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire and SF-36.
Time frame: 90 days post-index bronchoscopic lung volume reduction
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