What is it about?

We investigated clinical utility of endobronchial valve therapy in Koran advanced emphysema patients who had different COPD phenotype from Western patients. There were significant improvements in lung function, exercise capacity and quality of life after 6 months.

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Why is it important?

Endobronchial valve therapy was as effective and safe in Korean patients as it has been shown to be in Western countries. Ethnicity and geographical factor did not affect the outcomes.

Perspectives

The efficacy and safety of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction with endobronchial valve in Korea, an Asian country, were were acceptable and consistent with the results of previous studies in Western countries. Along with tobacco smoking, previous exposure to biomass fuels or dust-bearing jobs, and treated pulmonary tuberculosis are also major causes of COPD in Asia. However, these factors did not seem to affect the outcomes of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction.

Dr Tai Sun Park
Asan Medical Center

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This page is a summary of: Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction by endobronchial valve in advanced emphysema: the first Asian report, International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, July 2015, Dove Medical Press,
DOI: 10.2147/copd.s85744.
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