J. Brandl’s Story on Severe COPD/Emphysema
Procedure Details:
Age at Treatment: 59
Hospital: Ruhrlandklinik Essen, Germany
Date of Procedure: January 2011
Life Before Zephyr® Valves:
I am a little coward when it comes to doctors and needles which is why I rarely went to see a doctor. In 2004, it became unavoidable. Even though my appointment was for different reasons, I was diagnosed with stage 3 COPD.
COPD was not unfamiliar to me because my father had already suffered from this lung disease. But I had never imagined that I myself would be affected – even though I had been a smoker for many years and was professionally exposed to asbestos/glass wool. I only noticed that I experienced unusual difficulties when carrying heavy loads and walking up stairs, resulting now and then in shortness of breath. I blamed this on excessive stress.
The treatment itself:
I was initially meant to undergo lung volume reduction surgery, but the doctors decided against this and proposed to insert endobronchial valves into my lungs. I did not think about this for long and agreed. Shortly afterwards, I received four valves. After one year, one of them was removed and four others added.
Life After Zephyr Valves:
Of course, I had to admit to something: Having the valves in my lungs did not mean that I could run a marathon straight away. My body needed some time to get used to the circumstances. I am not running marathons but since having the valves I am breathing better and staying active.
I do as much as I can and do not put any pressure on myself. One thing is clear: Despite my disease, I do not want to give up on anything. My life today includes for instance respiratory exercises once a week and meeting friends for coffee every Wednesday. I am very active in the Leverkusen COPD self-help group. I have been helping to run this group since 2017. We organized 6 COPD events in Leverkusen in 2020.
My greatest wish since the insertion of the valves was to climb the steps of Cologne cathedral. I trained for this regularly until I succeeded: up the spires of Cologne cathedral and down again. I thus want to warmly recommend my life’s philosophy to other sufferers: “Have zest for life – despite and defy shortness of breath!”
The results of case studies do not necessarily allow conclusions to be drawn in other cases. Results in other cases can be different. Possible complications associated with the endobronchial valve treatment include: Pneumothorax, deterioration of the COPD symptoms, pneumonia, dyspnea and in rare cases death.
GLO-EN-783-v1 Patient Story – J. Brandl – January 2021
