A local doctor is helping patients breathe easier thanks to a new cutting-edge treatment being used at Parkview Health System, which is designed to bring relief to patients with severe emphysema and breathing difficulties.
Dr. Joshiah Gordon of Pueblo Pulmonary Associates is offering new hope to patients affected by emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD, who are seeking an improved quality of life. Gordon is using the Zephyr Valve System, which is the first Food and Drug Administration-approved, minimally invasive procedure of its kind that can help patients without resorting to major surgery.
Gordon began offering the life-altering procedure to Pueblo patients Monday. One patient proved not to be a good candidate and the valves were not inserted, but the second patient received four valves and will be going home Thursday.
"In their words, they said, 'I haven't breathed this well in 10 years.' So this is wonderful," Gordon told the Chieftain.
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Evaluation determines if a patient is a candidate
The guidelines recommend patients who meet the criteria and are experiencing significant symptoms should be evaluated for the procedure. In Pueblo, Gordon is getting help with those evaluations from his colleagues Dr. Craig Shapiro and Dr. Marcel Junqueira at Pueblo Pulmonary Associates.
The evaluation includes a CAT scan so that doctors can pinpoint the best placement of valves so they will be most beneficial to the patient.
Eventually the plan is for both Shapiro and Junqueira to also perform the procedure. Pueblo Pulmonary Associates also offers a training fellowship, so the goal will be to have doctors in training also learn the procedure and take that skill wherever they go to work.
How the procedure works
Patients are sedated. Gordon then uses a bronchoscope, a small tube with a camera attached, and inserts it through the breathing tube that has been placed into a patient's mouth.
"During the procedure, tiny valves are strategically placed within the airways to block off diseased lung segments," Gordon explained. "We have three lobes in the right lung and two lobes on the left lung and typically, most emphysema patients have problems in their upper lungs."
The valves alleviate hyperinflation by allowing trapped air to escape and "enable healthier portions of the lung to draw in more air," Gordon explained. "The lung is like a sponge so it has stretch."
"The better lung will expand and take over the chest cavity once we get rid of the dead space of ventilation. It improves ventilation of the lower lungs.
"The result is a significantly improved ability for our patients to breathe," he said. "Hopefully they will use less oxygen."
The procedure enhances individual breathing capacity and quality of life. The valves also promote the expansion and growth of healthy lung tissue which can empower patients to engage in physical activities and enjoy daily life, according to a Parkview press release.
On average, about four of the values are placed into the airways during the procedure, which takes up to an hour. Patients will generally stay in the hospital for three to five days following the procedure.
Smoking is considered the number one cause of emphysema, so those who opt for the procedure have to quit smoking at least four months before the treatment in order to obtain the optimal outcome and overall lung health.
Because the procedure is so new, there is no data yet, but the hope is that patients will experience improved survival rates, Gordon said.
More on Gordon
Gordon is a Colorado native who has served with Pueblo Pulmonary Associates for a dozen years. He spent eight years as program director for Parkview's Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship.
Gordon also played a pivotal role in establishing the Pulmonary Hypertension and Right Heart Failure clinic in Pueblo and has additional expertise in critical care ultrasound and rare lung diseases.
To find out more, call Pueblo Pulmonary Associates at 719-564-1542 or go to publeopulmonary.com.
More Parkview news: Pueblo's Parkview Health System merger with UCHealth may not happen until next year
Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at [email protected] or via X, formerly Twitter, at twitter.com/tracywumps. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.
