Piedmont Atlanta is the first in Georgia to offer a new treatment option to people with emphysema

The Piedmont Atlanta Hospital is the first in the state of Georgia to offer a new, minimally invasive treatment for emphysema, a serious form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The procedure improves the quality of life of patients by allowing them to breathe better, to be out of breath and to be more active and more energetic. The treatment, using the Zephyr^® Valve System is revolutionary because it is the first FDA approved minimally invasive emphysema procedure, which means no incisions or cuts are necessary.

This new treatment option changes the lives of people with emphysema and severe COPD. Until now, the only other options for these patients were highly invasive treatments such as surgical reduction of lung volume or lung transplantation. This minimally invasive procedure offers new hope to patients who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical care. "

Ralitza Martin, M.D., interventional pulmonologist working in the field of pneumology, intensive care and sleep disorders in Piedmont and the first state doctor to perform this procedure

COPD and more particularly emphysema is a progressive and potentially fatal lung disease usually caused by smoking. There is no cure and patients live with severe shortness of breath. Simple daily activities like walking or taking a shower are often very difficult.

This extreme shortness of breath is due to the fact that air is trapped in parts of the lung damaged by the disease. This trapped air causes enlargement of the damaged areas of the lungs, putting pressure on the healthy parts of the lungs and diaphragm. This procedure places tiny valves in the airways to block the damaged areas of the lungs so that the air is no longer trapped, allowing the healthiest parts of the lungs to expand so patients can breathe better.

"We have been practicing this procedure for several months and have seen a dramatic improvement in the quality of life of treated patients," said Dr. Martin. "It's incredibly rewarding to see patients who were previously unable to walk down a hallway to find the opportunity to go out and spend time with family and friends."

In clinical studies, patients treated with Zephyr^® Valve System has been shown to breathe better, be more active and energetic, have less shortness of breath and enjoy a significantly improved quality of life compared to untreated patients.