I have just returned from seeing my GP. I have given him the website to look up the
article about the 80 yr old man in Australia who had those valve things put into his
lungs. I will keep you posted on what he says. Here's fingers crossed.
Aus., lung valves: I have just returned... - Lung Conditions C...
Aus., lung valves
Written by
Nikkers
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Will keep them crossed for you, lots of luck TAD xx
Hi
If you put " Johnwr " into find member search box you will find all the information you need.
John as had valve fitted and wrote several good post on the subject.
Well written and informative .
He may still be available to supply information via PMs?
Good luck to you Nikkers and keeping everything crossed. xxxx
Hi Nikkers,
I had them 3 years ago. Pulmonx is the company that make them, their name is 'Zephyr Valve'. I wrote about them on this blog first in Nov 2012 and several times since. The first and other main articles are here;---
healthunlocked.com/blf/post....?
healthunlocked.com/blf/post...........?
healthunlocked.com/blf/post...
Remember that they are not suitable for everyone, and few actually get the level of success that I got, which was exceptional. There is nothing lost by getting referred for assessment, and possibly much to gain. Go for it, is what I tell everyone. If you want to copy the articles for your doc, do so.
I'll always answer questions where I can.
breathe easy,
johnwr
Hi Nikkers,
I take it you mean this:-
9news.com.au/health/2015/03...
If so, then that is the Zephyr valve from Pulmonx. Sometime they look like stents. The valve bit is inside.
johnwr
Hi Johnwr, sorry, I thought what you had were the ones everyone was talking about a little while ago on here! Don't suppose I'll get them anyway, but we'll see!? XX
Hi Nikkers,
These valves you mean are the same ones I had.
Bit of history:-
Valves have been tried in one form or another since about the '70s. The problem with the various early designs was they broke up. At the end of the nineties, several people in different companies developed nitinol, a memory metal spring material tolerated by the body, that is long lasting. Also a new version of a polythene-like plastic sheet. Valves were developed in two designs, and the first to get to the market was Spiration, whose valve used the airway wall as part of the mechanism. Second to the market was Pulmonx, with their Zephyr valve, where the valve mechanism is enclosed within a sprung tube.
Trials were not allowed in the US due to a moratorium on trials since the late nineties. The trials took place in Europe, mostly in Germany, with some happening in UK. Approval for valves was gained in 2009 in Europe, with limited approval in the UK. NICE has now given a wider approval since Sept 2013.
Trials are now underway in US (approval gained in 2014).
Australia and other countries have given limited approval recently, hence the report from Aus.
Hope this helps, without causing an argument.
johnwr.
Not at all Johnwr, I'm grateful for your information and help. I just never realised they were one and the same. XX
Thank you for following up on this. I have thought a lot about it and wonder many things..
I saw that in Australia at the moment,it was plastic valves,took 15 mins to fit them,non surgical . They will have to come to this country.
I'm in Australia and have been offered the option of having the PulmonX valve procedure. I'm reluctant to go ahead with it because it appears the improvement from this procedure lasts only for about 12 months. Then there is the real issue of complications post surgery. The stats I read were that the percentage of these complications was 40%. That's very high.
johnwr, I would be grateful for any and all advice you can provide me with when you have the time. I read somewhere...sorry I'm still learning to navigate this site...that you have had the valves removed now. Is that correct? I can't find a post of yours that give us this info.
The respiratory specialist I saw 5 days ago did not offer me an alternative option. My emphysema is graded as severe. I would prefer a medical option rather than a surgical one. Just yesterday I read on this site about the antibiotic Azithromycin. I would like to give that a try.
I appreciate any reply people take the time and make the effort to post. Many thanks.
HI KNIKKERS WELL MATEY IT WASNT ME COS I GOT PSP YOU SEE REMEMBER ME WE HAD A CHAT ABOUJT 3 WEEKS AGO NOW PETER JONES QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA DO NOT REMEMBEDR SEEING ANYTHING ABOUT IT IN THE PAPERS MATE SEE YER MATEY TAKE CARE
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