Endobronchial Valve Therapy

Endobronchial valve therapy is a minimally invasive procedure designed to help individuals with severe emphysema—a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—breathe more easily. At Wellstar, our expert pulmonologists will assess your pulmonary care needs and work closely with you to determine the right plan for your best health and well-being.

What Is Endobronchial Valve Therapy?

With emphysema, damaged lung tissue leads to air becoming trapped, causing parts of the lungs to overinflate. This overinflation reduces your oxygen intake and makes breathing difficult.

Endobronchial valves are tiny, one-way valves placed into the airways of the most damaged lung areas using a bronchoscope, a thin, flexible tube inserted through the mouth or nose. These valves allow trapped air to escape when you exhale but prevent air from entering these areas when you breathe in. As a result, the disease-affected areas of the lung can deflate, allowing healthier lung tissue to expand and function more effectively.

Benefits of Endobronchial Valve Therapy

Patients who undergo endobronchial valve therapy often experience:

Improved breathing and lung function
Reduced shortness of breath
Enhanced ability to engage in daily activities
Better overall quality of life

Because the procedure is minimally invasive and requires no incisions, recovery times are typically shorter compared to traditional lung surgeries.

Our Approach to Endobronchial Valve Therapy

Wellstar offers endobronchial valve therapy as part of our interventional pulmonary medicine program. Our team of expert pulmonologists performs this procedure at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center and Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center to treat patients with severe emphysema/COPD and help improve lung function.

To schedule an appointment with a pulmonologist for evaluation, call our nurse navigator:
In the Atlanta area: (470) 956-8288
In the Augusta area: (706) 721-8391