Services
Endoscopic Lung Volume Reduction
What is it?
ELVR or endoscopic lung volume reduction is a form of non-surgical lung volume reduction to treat people with severe emphysema.
How does it work?
- In severe emphysema, damaged lung tissue will gradually lose its elasticity; inelastic lung has difficulty emptying of air.
- Eventually more and more air gets trapped in the lung, causing over-inflation (hyperinflation)
- Air that gets trapped in the inelastic lung does not contribute to ventilation and makes breathing inefficient and difficult
- Deflating these areas of hyperinflated lung has been shown to improve breathing parameters, exercise capacity and quality of life in selected people with severe emphysema
- This can be achieved using one-way valves (endobronchial valves) that are inserted into the airways of the most diseased areas of lung
- These endobronchial valves gradually deflate the diseased areas of lung and allow the remainder of the lung to function more effectively
- In patients where valves are not suitable, then Sydney Interventional Pulmonology now has the ability to achieve lung volume reduction with either steam (Bronchoscopic Thermal Ablation Therapy), or via “glue” (Aeriseal (c) Polymer)
Hyperinflated Lungs
Video of Pulmonx Endobronchial valve deployment
- For a Video of the Olympus Intra Bronchial Valve deployment, click here.
- Professor Ing talks about Endoscopic Lung Volume Reduction (pdf download)
- Watch a Patient Video about their experience with ELVR with valves
Details of procedure ELVR with valves
- ELVR is performed via a general anesthetic
- Once you are unconscious, a bronchoscope will be inserted through your mouth into your airways
- Using the bronchoscope, the endobronchial valves are positioned and deployed into your airways, there is no cutting or surgery involved
- The whole procedure takes approximately one hour and usually your stay in hospital is 48 hours.
How do I find out more?
- ELVR is not suitable for everyone and a detailed assessment by a physician is required prior to offering this treatment
- Your Interventional Pulmonologist can give you more information and answer any questions you may have
- Patient Information Guides and External Links: Olympus Intrabronchial Valves (IBV) for Emphysema. The Patient Guide for The Olympus IBV valve can be obtained here, by clicking on the IBV Patient Procedure link. Also available is the Pulmonx EBV valves – guide for Patients with Emphysema.
- More information on Endoscopic Lung Volume Reduction via “Steam” – Bronchoscopic Thermal Vapour Ablation ( BTVA) and “Glue” – Aeriseal Polymer. Presentation by Professor Ing.