Bronchoscopic Coil Treatment for Patients with Severe Emphysema: A Meta-Analysis

Bronchoscopic coil treatment has been shown to improve pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and quality of life in patients with severe emphysema.

To perform a meta-analysis of the results of four independent European clinical trials investigating this coil therapy for emphysema.

Data on all patients included in the four European clinical trials were analyzed for efficacy and safety outcomes.

A total of 2,536 coils were placed during 259 procedures in 140 patients. A total of 37 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations and 27 pneumonias were recorded as serious adverse events up to 1 year after treatment. The pneumothorax rate was 6.4%. Both 6 and 12 months after treatment, significant (all p < 0.001) improvements were observed for: forced expiratory volume in 1 s [+0.08 liters (±0.19) and +0.08 liters (±0.21)], residual volume [RV; -510 ml (±850) and -430 ml (±720)], 6-min walking distance [6MWD; +44.1 m (±69.8) and +38.1 m (±71.9)], and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire score [SGRQ; -9.5 points (±14.3) and -7.7 points (±14.2)]. No differences in any outcome measures were observed between heterogeneous and homogeneous emphysema patients. Only a high baseline RV was found to be an independent predictor of successful treatment.

Bronchoscopic coil treatment improves pulmonary function, 6MWD, and quality of life in patients with severe emphysema up to 1 year after treatment, independent of the distribution of the disease.