Zephyr® Valve Placement
Carilion Clinic’s Department of Pulmonary Medicine is the first in central and western Virginia to offer the Zephyr® Endobronchial Valve System, a new and exciting treatment for certain patients with severe emphysema. ...
How Zephyr® Valves Work
The Zephyr® valve is a “breakthrough device,” designated and approved by the FDA as the first minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure to help qualified patients breathe easier.
How It Works
- Through bronchoscopy, small, specialized valves are placed in airways to block airflow to diseased parts of the lungs
- Zephyr® valves reduce air trapping in damaged areas, while also letting air escape these areas
- Healthy lung areas can expand to improve oxygen uptake
- The diaphragm recovers its normal shape to improve breathing
- An average of four valves are placed during the procedure
Results
Patients treated with Zephyr® valves have been shown to:
- Breathe easier
- Be more active and energetic
- Be less short of breath
- Enjoy improved quality of life
Candidates for the Zephyr® Procedure
Severe emphysema patients who consistently feel short of breath despite using COPD medications and/or oxygen are possible candidates for this procedure.
Zephyr® valves were found to be effective in patients with little to no collateral ventilation in the lobes targeted for treatment. Using specialized tests, our trained physicians will determine in advance the likelihood of benefiting from the procedure. A thorough diagnostic workup will be performed to ensure the patient is a good candidate for treatment, prior to inserting any valves.
Please refer patients for evaluation through our Zephyr® Valve referral and procedure coordinator and be ready to provide the patient’s history by fax and/or electronic record, including recent CT images of the chest, if available. See "How To Refer a Patient."
Benefits of Zephyr® Valves
Patients report being able to take full breaths immediately after the procedure, and within a few days, are back to doing everyday tasks with ease. In clinical studies, patients treated with Zephyr® valves have been shown to:
- Breathe easier
- Be more active and energetic
- Be less short of breath
- Enjoy a significantly improved quality of life compared to untreated patients
How To Refer a Patient
Coordinator Rae Lea Blankenship, RRT, is the first point of contact for patients and referring clinicians interested in the Zephyr® program. She provides patient-centered care, focusing on improving patient symptoms and quality of life.
Rae helps with patient screening and selection, as well as scheduling consultations, testing and any procedures.
She helps to obtain insurance authorizations for the Zephyr® procedure and arrange the inpatient stay.
For referral and more information, call 540-985-8505 or email copd_program@carilionclinic.org.
Carilion Clinic Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine
2001 Crystal Spring Ave., Suite 300
Roanoke, VA 24014
Phone: 540-985-8505
Fax: 540-344-3313
copd_program@carilionclinic.org
Meet Our Team
Program Team
Maria Cirino-Marcano, MD, Program Director
Edmundo R. Rubio, MD, Division Chief, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Dr. Rubio is board certified in Pulmonary Medicine with advanced training in Interventional Pulmonology at Tulane University. He has experience placing endobronchial valves for many years and sees a potential opportunity to improve quality of life through this procedure, in appropriately selected patients.
