Current Treatment of Emphysema In 2003, a landmark study conducted by the National Institutes of Health, the National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT), demonstrated that some emphysema patients can benefit from a surgical treatment known as lung volume reduction surgery. This procedure involves surgically opening the chest and cutting away the most diseased portions of the lungs. While effective for some patients, this procedure is extremely invasive and is only suitable for a select subset of patients. Post-surgical complications occur in a majority of patients, and include persistent air leaks, respiratory failure, arrhythmias, and infections. The 90-day post-surgical mortality is approximately 5 percent.
Lung transplantation is also an effective treatment for patients with advanced emphysema, but is limited by chronic rejection and insufficient donor organ availability.
Now, a minimally invasive lung volume reduction solution for patients with advanced upper-lobe predominant (ULP) or homogeneous emphysema is available. The AeriSeal System is designed to reduce lung volume in order to improve lung function and quality of life for patients with advanced emphysema.
We invite you to explore our research publications and related links to learn more about the scientific foundation of our therapeutic programs.
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