Lung valves (also called endobronchial valves) are removable, one-way valves that doctors place in your lungs. They cut off diseased airways to help the healthy airways work better. Lung valves are right for some—but not all—people with emphysema.

When you have emphysema, the air sacs in your lungs get weak and stretched out. Your lungs hold trapped air because the air sacs can’t squeeze the air back out. This trapped air also makes it challenging to inhale and fill the lungs with new air.

Typical emphysema symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and fatigue. It’s usually caused by smoking or inhaling secondhand smoke. 

There’s no cure for emphysema. In most cases, we can control symptoms with medicine, pulmonary rehabilitation, healthy eating, and oxygen therapy.

If you have severe emphysema and your symptoms haven’t improved with these treatments, lung valves may be an option.

The lung valve blocks airflow to the diseased parts of your lungs. It allows the trapped air to escape while not allowing new air in. This makes it easier to breathe new air into the healthier parts of the lungs, improving your oxygen intake.

Lung valves aren’t for everyone, even if you have advanced emphysema. Your doctor can tell you if you’re a good candidate. 

To be eligible, you must:

• Be at least 22 years old
• Have advanced emphysema
• Have severe symptoms even after trying other treatments
• Do blood, breathing, and other tests to qualify
• Be non-smoking or willing to quit smoking

Our doctors place the lung valves using a minimally invasive procedure. Other surgical procedures for COPD include lung volume reduction and lung transplant. Compared to these more invasive surgeries, you’ll have a faster recovery, less pain, and a shorter hospital stay.

Here’s what you can expect before, during, and after placement of the valves.

Before the procedure

You may need to:

• Get a referral: Only specially trained doctors at Carilion offer this procedure. If you’re seeing your primary care team for your COPD, you may need to get a referral to our pulmonology department. 
• Have preliminary testing: We may need to see blood tests, imaging scans, lung function tests, and a 6-minute walk test.
• Quit smoking: You either need to be non-smoking or willing to quit smoking.
• Check your insurance coverage: It’s important to know what your out-of-pocket expenses will be.

During the procedure

Your valve placement will take place in the hospital and usually lasts about 30 – 60 minutes. An anesthetist will give you medicine to help you fall asleep, so you’re comfortable throughout the procedure.

Your doctor will then guide a bronchoscope—a thin tube with a camera—into the affected airways. Using the camera for guidance, the doctor will place about 4 tiny valves into the diseased areas of your lungs.

After the procedure

You’ll need some time to rest and recover after your valve placement. Most people stay in the hospital for 2 – 3 nights so the care team can monitor their progress.

Many people notice that they can breathe more easily right away, often taking deeper breaths than they could before the procedure.

Over the next 2 – 3 weeks, you’ll gain strength and energy. Many people report feeling less short of breath during everyday activities.

Risks of lung valves

Lung valve placement is a minimally invasive lung procedure. There are no incisions or cuts involved. But as with any medical procedure, there are some risks, including:

• Collapsed lung
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Pain
• Pneumonia
• Shortness of breath