Delray Medical Center announced today it is the first hospital in Palm Beach County to use the Spiration Valve System (SVS) for the treatment of severe emphysema along with SeleCT™ Screening, an AI-screening program powered by Imbio to help identify those patients who would benefit from the minimally invasive treatment option for lung volume reduction. These processes provide physicians an important therapeutic option for the treatment of adult patients who are suffering from the symptoms of severe emphysema, such as shortness of breath.
Dr. Stephen Milan performed the milestone procedure.
Emphysema, a progressive form of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), is characterized by a loss of elasticity and enlargement of the air sacs of the lung. The diseased lobes of the lungs become hyperinflated, causing significant challenges with breathing.
COPD affects nearly 16 million adults in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is a commonly undiagnosed lung disease with studies showing that as many as 80% of adults with COPD worldwide are undiagnosed.
SeleCT Screening automatically reviews existing chest computed tomography (CT) scans to help identify patients who would benefit from bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR). BLVR with endobronchial valves such as the Spiration Valve System may improve lung function by allowing airflow to be redirected from hyperinflated portions of the lung to healthier portions.
The Spiration Valve System includes an umbrella-shaped device that is placed in targeted airways of the lung during a short bronchoscopic procedure. Once in place, the device allows air flow to be directed from diseased parts of the lung to healthier parts, allowing the healthier lung tissue to expand and function more effectively. With a potential reduction in lung volume, a patient may be able to breathe more easily and experience improvement in their quality of life.3
Study results looking at the effectiveness of treatment with the Spiration™ Valve System resulted in statistically significant and clinical meaningful durable improvements in lung function, respiratory symptoms and quality-of-life, as well as statistically significant dyspnea for at least 24 months after treatment.3
Potential adverse events which may be associated with the use of the Spiration Valve System may include, but are not limited to, pneumothorax, worsening of COPD symptoms, pneumonia, and dyspnea. A full list of prescriptive information and additional information on indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions and potential complications is available here.
“We are pleased to add the Spiration Valve System to our treatment options for patients with severe emphysema and SeleCT™ Screening as a tool that may help our physicians more easily identify the patients best suited for this treatment,” said Dr. Milan. “SVS from Olympus gives pulmonologists at Delray Medical Center an additional treatment alternative for this underserved patient population. Meaningful improvement in breathing can mean fuller lives for our patients.”
By providing therapies such as the Spiration Valve System and SeleCT Screening from Olympus, Delray Medical Center is able to offer an effective treatment option for patients with severe emphysema.