Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

In a procedure lasting 30–60 minutes, about four Zephyr Valves are placed in the airways leading to the damaged parts of the lung. This is done by bronchoscopy (through the nose or mouth) thus requiring no cutting of the skin. The valves prevent air from entering the damaged parts of the lungs, thus reducing overinflation.

The Zephyr Valve is suitable for patients who have difficulty breathing due to severe emphysema. All other treatment options, such as medication, should have been tried first. Before you can be treated, your doctor will check whether a part of your lungs is suitable for the Zephyr Valve procedure.

The benefits of the Zephyr Valve have been clinically proven in several clinical studies.^2-6In the current LIBERATE Study¹ after one year, patients treated with the Zephyr Valve — compared to patients who received medication alone — experienced the following benefits:

• They could breathe more easily due to improved lung function
• They were able to do more physical activity and cover longer distances
• They could do more daily activities like going for a walk, taking a bath and gardening
• They had a better quality of life and more energy
• They were more confident when they left the house

All medical devices have benefits and risks. Possible complications associated with the Zephyr Valve include pneumothorax, worsening COPD symptoms, coughing up blood (haemoptysis), pneumonia, breathlessness (dyspnoea) and, in rare cases, death. Your treating doctor will give you detailed information about the possible complications and risks and how often they occur, to help you understand these better.

The Zephyr Valve procedure is available in more than 20 countries. Find a doctor

The Zephyr Valves are designed to be in the body for a long time. They are unique, however, in that they can be removed and replaced if needed.

More than 19,000 patients all over the world have had the treatment.