Meta-analysis and Systematic Review of Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction Through Endobronchial Valves in Severe...

Pharmacologic therapeutics for advanced emphysema have limited benefit. Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction with endobronchial valves (EBVs) have reported improvements in lung function, breathlessness, and quality of life through randomized clinical trials, with less morbidity as comparted to Surgical Lung volume Reduction. We here present a Meta-analysis and systematic review of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction in advanced chronic obstructive lung disease patients.

PubMed (NLM), Embase (Elsevier), and Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics) search was conducted using a combination of keywords and subject headings. The search was confined to the last 15 years and was completed on October 23, 2020. Only placebo-controlled randomized control trials of emphysema patients with EBV were included. Quality assessment was done by 2 independent reviewers.

Nine studies were included for the meta-analysis with a total number of 1383 patients of whom 888 received EBV and 495 standard of care (SOC) medications. Our Metanalysis show statistically significant improvement in forced expiratory volume in first second, percentage forced expiratory volume in first second, St. George's respiratory questionnaire, and 6-minute walk distance in EBV group compared with SOC. Residual volume had statistically significant reduction after EBV placement compared with SOC. These differences continued to be present during short-term (<=6 mo) and long-term follow-up (>=6 mo). These improvements were even higher when the EBV patients'. Collateral ventilation was negative/fissure was intact (CV-/FI >90%). The rate of hemoptysis and pneumothorax was higher in the EBV group compared with SOC, however, did not lead to increased fatal outcomes.

In conclusion, EBV has favorable effects on patients' outcomes in patients who have heterogeneous emphysema particularly with no collateral ventilation.