lung volume reduction

Hi Jacqs

Never heard of this, will be interesting to hear more.

As I understand it, there are now two types - an invasive op to remove the dead bits or non-invasive with coils which expand in the vacant areas. Sadly I wasn't bad enough for either  until, all of a sudden I'm too far gone for either. Ho hum. Hence I can't give you 1st hand experience but there are many on the COPD UK Facebook page who have. 

Hi Jac I have a friend (mid 30's and didn't have copd) who had repeated bouts of pneumonia which left part of a lung very damaged.  She had surgery where they took off half her lung.   She was dead scared and convinced she was going to die but went ahead with it anyway.  She was in hospital for a week or more and has been left with a scar which is fading fast.   She was laid up for around 6 weeks and didn't start to feel better for around 2 months,  so it is a big op.

She says it is the best thing she even did and she can breathe without difficulty now.  She walks up hills and steps very fast and is a lot fitter.   So it was totally worth it for her.   She even told someone that the scar was the result of a shark bite while rescuing a kiddie from the water,  and they believed her  

You have to weigh up what's best for you,  with your specialists advice,  but I hope this has helped a bit.  x

Hi Jacq,

I recently had lung coils istalled on August 28th and October 3oth. After the first set I over exerted myself and was admitted to the hospital for 2 days. I have been on a clinica; trial for a year and finally had the coils installed. When I first got involved with this I was told that after coil installation some people would full a dramatic improvememnt for the positiive. I didn't feel that but some minor improvement. I have also been told that it might take 6 months or longer to realize imporovement. Like all of us in this forum, patience is key to getting some benefit from whatever program we are part of.

A good day to all 

Hi Jacqs

I got to admit, I have never heard of that.

I have COPD with lung volume of 55%. Would love to know, if you have this procedure done, how it as worked out.

Best of luck and let me know, if you can, how it goes

Kev

Jacqs good morning I must say I also never heard of this but I will surely look into this and do some research thank you for sharing

Jacqs53, I have heard of several people who have had Lung Volume Reduction Surgery (LVRS) done, and they love it. It is suppose to last for about 5-9 (or possibly more) years, since as we age, so does our lungs. So our lungs will eventually return back to the way it was before. But, I've heard that after LVRS, if we keep exercising, and eating a healthy diet, then hopefully it will last a very long time. I know someone who had it done, and is going on year 9 now, and she still feels great. It did not heal her completely, but she is enjoying lesser SOB. Her symptoms had improved significantly, especially her SOB. The main thing she wanted was to have the SOB lessened. She loves the way she feels today. I read her day to day diary about her journey of going through the LVRS, and it was a very long diary to read, but one of the most interesting thing's I've read. 

Also, whereas the LVRS is very old, presently they have been testing or having trials for using coils. The coils have been on (USA) trials, and are almost finished, and it may become marketed sometime next year in USA. Also, I am not sure, but may be on trial in other countries in Europe too.

The Coils are suppose to be a new way of performing LVRS. Coils does the same job as LVRS, but it is non invasive, whereas LVRS is invasive. The coils are tiny pieces of nickle placed in the lungs using bronchoscopy (tube down throat). The nickle metals (coils) roll up damaged parts (alveoli) of the lungs, giving lungs more expansion/tension to allow more better and even gas exchanges.  I know several people who are on trial for Coils, and they like them, and the SOB does drop off quite a bit for both Coils and LVRS. Google for coils: LVRC (lung volume reduction coil) or RePneu Coils.

When the coils (LVRC) become marketable (if they do), some people have thoughts about having the coil surgery first, and then when its effects wear off, have the LVRS next. Of course, since the LVRC is new, they have not had enough time to see how long their effects will last on the patients who are in the trials, but will see in the near future.