COPD & Emphysema Support Group

COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...

936 Members

10,879 Posts

0 Online

gwapo 12/30/2015

http://www.jthoracdis.com/article/view/3496/html

Advanced therapies for COPDWhats on the horizon? Progress in lung volume reduction and lung transplantation
Michael A. Trotter, Peter M. Hopkins
School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Correspondence to: Michael A. Trotter. Associate Lecturer, Queensland Lung Transplantation Service, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Email: Michael.trotter@health.qld.gov.au.

Just some informative reading..

Peter

deegran 01/02/2016

I understood some of it, kind of. The thermal vapor ablation is interesting to me. Well, it's all interesting, the less invasive the better. And the conclusion as I understand it basically says they don't have enough information and these therapies aren't widely accessible. Is that what you read? My pulmonologist pretty much steered me away from the lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) and said if you're going to have surgery, get the lung transplant. When I brought up the coils he thought there wasn't enough information out there to know if it worked or not. But I like that they're looking. It's at least promising. Thanks Peter. Happy New Year!

bjrapp2020 01/02/2016

Very good info Peter. And Hello my helicopter friend !! My pulmy also nixed LVRS , saying it only last a while, has a lot of problems, like when you get out of breath or sob, you have less lung air to work with, and he nixed the coils and plugs because of possible infections and not enough history ...I hope y'all have a wonderful new year full of all sort of possibilities.
BJ

gwapo 01/02/2016

Yes i was online last year in real time on a FB group....A friend was waiting in hospital before his LVRS procedure so it was like actually being with him......Said our best of lucks when they wheeled him off....

Later...we caught up with him and went thru small talk and he said he just did not feel right.......end story, he passed on that day because it was his heart that could not cope.....

so....the more i read n the fact im passed even qualifying for a transplant, i think i will just live my life and hope something miraculous turns up...haha...

Have a great n better health in this year ahead..

Peter

yetmost 01/16/2016

I had the procedure in 2005. I would be dead now if I had not had the surgery. The benefits gave me 7 good years. Didn't stop the progression, but I did breath much better and didn't use oxygen for about 4 years.

mchughirene 01/16/2016

If there is something out there to stop this darn short of breath for even one year I woulld go through with it whatever the risk....thats just my feelings

gwapo 01/17/2016

Just a bit more info passed on to me from a friend waiting to go thru with something similar;;;

https://pulmonx.com/ous/impact-study-is-first-to-evaluate-benefits-of-zephyr-endobronchial-valves-used-exclusively-in-patients-with-homogeneous-emphysema/

Join the Conversation