Some people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have trouble breathing because parts of their lungs become damaged and begin to hold in trapped air. The Zephyr® Endobronchial Valve, or Zephyr Valve for short, offers hope for easier breathing to people with advanced COPD.1,2
What is the Zephyr Valve?
The Zephyr Valve is a removable medical device that is placed in the lungs. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the device to treat severe emphysema, a type of COPD. The Zephyr Valve is about the size of a pencil eraser.1,2
How does the Zephyr Valve work?
The Zephyr Valve helps improve breathing problems in some people with severe emphysema by using a 1-way valve. This means air can only move through it in 1 direction. It works by closing off damaged parts of the lung during inhalation. Inhalation is the process of breathing in, which expands the lung with air. The air in the lungs is sent to organs in the body, which is necessary for our bodies to remain healthy. For this reason, increasing the amount of air in the lungs of a person with COPD is very important.1,2
The Zephyr Valve then opens the damaged part of the lung during exhalation, or breathing out. During exhalation, the valve allows trapped air and fluids to escape. This reduces pressure in the lungs.1
How is the Zephyr Valve placed in the body?
A doctor places the Zephyr Valve into the lungs with a flexible tube called a bronchoscope. The bronchoscope has a camera at the end that helps the doctor see inside the body. The doctor uses this camera-guided tube to insert the Zephyr Valve into the diseased parts of the lung. The doctor may place, on average, 4 Zephyr Valves into the lungs.1,3
The procedure to place the valve takes about an hour. But you may be asked to stay in the hospital for several days so your care team can monitor your breathing.3
How effective is the Zephyr Valve?
Researchers measured the effectiveness of the Zephyr Valve in a clinical trial. In 1 trial group, people received the Zephyr Valve along with medicine. In the other trial group, people received only the medicine. The researchers measured how many people had at least a 15 percent improvement in their lung function.1
Nearly half of the people in the group that received the Zephyr Valve had improved lung function. Only 17 percent of people in the medicine-only group had improved lung function.1
How does the Zephyr Valve help treat COPD?
People with severe emphysema or advanced COPD may experience several benefits from this device. Benefits may include:4
- Breathing more easily
- Having more energy
- Being more active
- Being less short of breath
- Enjoying a better quality of life
One study compared people who had had a Zephyr Valve for 1 year to people who had not received the valve. Those with the valve scored better on multiple assessments for breathing, lung function, energy levels, and quality of life.5
What are the possible side effects?
Some people with a Zephyr Valve may experience side effects and negative outcomes. Doctors call these adverse events. Adverse events of the Zephyr Valve may include:1
- Chest pain
- Pneumonia
- Coughing up blood
- Shortness of breath
- Worsening of emphysema
- Air leaking outside the lung but within the fluid-filled space around the lungs (pneumothorax)
- Death
These are not all the possible side effects of the Zephyr Valve. Talk to your doctor about what to expect with this device. You also should call your doctor if you have any changes that concern you following the Zephyr Valve procedure.
Who should get a Zephyr Valve?
If you have advanced COPD or severe emphysema and often feel short of breath, ask your doctor whether this device might be right for you. The Zephyr Valve is an option for people with severe symptoms of emphysema. It can be a treatment choice when drugs or oxygen no longer offer relief.1,3
Your doctor may do some tests to determine whether the Zephyr Valve is a good option for you. These tests may include:3
- Pulmonary function testing
- Computed tomography (CT) scan
- Blood tests
- 6-minute walking test
- Echocardiogram test
- Perfusion test
Who should not get a Zephyr Valve?
The Zephyr Valve is not for everyone. Tell your doctor if you:1,3
- Have heart disease
- Are an active smoker
- Have a current lung infection
- Have had major lung procedures
- Cannot tolerate a bronchoscopic procedure
- Have an allergy to nitinol, nickel, titanium, or silicone
- Have an air pocket greater than one-third the size of the lung
Other things to know
After receiving the Zephyr Valve, your doctor may recommend taking antibiotics or steroids. You will need to continue taking all medicines as prescribed by your doctor. The Zephyr Valve is used in addition to your regular COPD medicines. The Zephyr Valve will not replace your regular COPD medicines.6
About 1 in 5 people need an adjustment procedure after their Zephyr Valve is placed. This means that existing valves may need to be removed and replaced. Your doctor may also place new valves in your lung during an adjustment procedure.6