Air Leaks

Sometimes allowing less air to pass through your lungs can actually help you breathe easier.

Persistent air leaks sometimes develop in the lung following chest surgery, trauma, or due to other lung diseases. In these cases, large amounts of inspired air pass through a tear in the lung directly into the chest cavity. This causes the lung to collapse rather than inflate, making breathing difficult. If the air leak fails to seal naturally, a chest tube may be inserted through the chest wall to extract air as it leaks into the chest cavity. In severe cases, surgical closure methods may be necessary though many patients are not able to tolerate such an invasive procedure. Surgical procedures also have the potential to create unwanted scarring and adhesions that limit further treatment options.

The Zephyr^® Endobronchial Valve is designed to block air from passing through the opening in the lung and into the chest cavity.** Reducing or eliminating airflow through the leak may allow the tissue to heal and potentially allow the patient to return to normal breathing. After healing and depending on the patient’s condition, the physician can choose whether to simply leave the valves in place or to attempt valve removal.

** Indicated for use outside the U.S. only.