Copd Complaints Regress With This 2-Hour Procedure

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a condition that causes obstruction of the airways, making breathing difficult. Depending on the presence and severity of chronic bronchitis and emphysema, COPD patients may experience symptoms ranging from coughing and phlegm production to shortness of breath, even after minimal exertion.

COPD is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide and the third most common cause of death nationally. The disease often goes undiagnosed until it has progressed, making treatment less effective. The primary cause of COPD is smoking. Quitting smoking is the most important and effective measure to reduce the risk and halt the progression of the disease. Other crucial aspects of treatment include regular medication and newly developed bronchoscopic procedures.

Over time, exposure to cigarette smoke and toxic gases damages the structure of the bronchi and alveoli in the lungs. This leads to the development of bronchitis, due to inflamed and blocked airways, and emphysema, caused by the destruction of alveolar tissue. As lung damage progresses, oxygen transfer to the bloodstream decreases, resulting in low oxygen levels. This lack of oxygen can contribute to a range of serious health issues throughout the body.

COPD is diagnosed through a respiratory function test, especially in patients with symptoms like coughing, phlegm, and shortness of breath. This test also helps determine the severity of the disease.

COPD is classified into four stages: mild, moderate, severe, and very severe (extremely severe). In the most advanced cases, patients may develop heart failure and swelling in their feet (edema). As the disease progresses, shortness of breath becomes so pronounced that individuals are often unable to leave their homes and may require supplemental oxygen for more than half the day.

An effective COPD treatment plan consists of four main steps:

1. Evaluation and ongoing monitoring of the disease
2. Reducing risk factors (such as smoking cessation)
3. Managing stable COPD with medications and non-medication-based therapies
4. Treating acute exacerbations—periods when symptoms temporarily worsen

For stable COPD, treatment includes the use of bronchodilator medications to relieve symptoms and annual flu vaccinations. Non-pharmaceutical treatments may involve respiratory rehabilitation, oxygen therapy, and, for select patients, procedures like bronchoscopic interventions and balloon dilation.

The balloon method is especially helpful for COPD patients with chronic bronchitis. During this procedure, blocked bronchi are widened by a balloon that is rhythmically inflated and deflated using a pump. This expansion opens the airways and destroys the defective mucus- or phlegm-producing cells, allowing healthy cells to regenerate. The excess mucus is removed by bronchoscopy during the treatment. Each lung lobe and segment is individually and mechanically cleaned, greatly increasing airway diameter and reducing phlegm production. By opening the airways, this method also relieves shortness of breath.

The procedure is performed in an operating room and typically takes about 2 hours to complete.

Following the procedure, patients typically experience improved lung function tests. The bronchial airways are significantly widened, leading to a reduction in phlegm production and relief from shortness of breath. Exercise tolerance increases, as shown by longer distances in the 6-minute walking test, and patients generally report lower scores for breathlessness symptoms.